Date of Defense
14-4-2026 10:00 AM
Location
Microsoft Teams
Document Type
Thesis Defense
College
College of Engineering
Department
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
First Advisor
Nayef Ghasem
Keywords
CO2 capture, PVDF, PES, MEA, membrane contactor, gas absorption, catalytic system, sustainability
Abstract
Effective carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is crucial for mitigating climate change. Membrane-based gas absorption systems, particularly those utilizing monoethanolamine (MEA), offer a modular, scalable, and energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods. However, challenges such as membrane wetting, solvent degradation, and mass-transfer limitations hinder their performance.This research investigated the efficiency of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyethersulfone (PES) polymeric membrane contactors for CO2 absorption using MEA under simulated flue gas conditions. A novel approach involved incorporating nanocatalytic material into the absorbent solution to enhance CO2 absorption. Characterization included SEM, FTIR, XRD, permeability, tensile strength, and contact angle measurements, alongside CO2 absorption performance evaluation. The PVDF membrane-catalytic system demonstrated superior hydrophobicity, higher contact angles, and enhanced resistance to wetting, ensuring a more stable gas-liquid interface compared to the PES system. Although PES membranes exhibited greater mechanical strength, their denser, hydrophilic structure limited gas permeability and increased mass transfer resistance. The addition of nanocatalyst significantly improved CO2 absorption for both membrane types. Overall, the findings affirm the potential of PVDF and PES membranes in gas-liquid membrane contactor applications, with PVDF showing clear advantages in commercial feasibility and hydrophobicity. This work represents a significant step towards sustainable, energy-efficient, and compact carbon capture technology, supporting global decarbonization efforts and the United Arab Emirates' Net Zero 2050 initiative.
Included in
Comparative Performance of Polymeric Membrane-Catalytic Combined Module Systems for Efficient CO2 Capture
Microsoft Teams
Effective carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is crucial for mitigating climate change. Membrane-based gas absorption systems, particularly those utilizing monoethanolamine (MEA), offer a modular, scalable, and energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods. However, challenges such as membrane wetting, solvent degradation, and mass-transfer limitations hinder their performance.This research investigated the efficiency of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyethersulfone (PES) polymeric membrane contactors for CO2 absorption using MEA under simulated flue gas conditions. A novel approach involved incorporating nanocatalytic material into the absorbent solution to enhance CO2 absorption. Characterization included SEM, FTIR, XRD, permeability, tensile strength, and contact angle measurements, alongside CO2 absorption performance evaluation. The PVDF membrane-catalytic system demonstrated superior hydrophobicity, higher contact angles, and enhanced resistance to wetting, ensuring a more stable gas-liquid interface compared to the PES system. Although PES membranes exhibited greater mechanical strength, their denser, hydrophilic structure limited gas permeability and increased mass transfer resistance. The addition of nanocatalyst significantly improved CO2 absorption for both membrane types. Overall, the findings affirm the potential of PVDF and PES membranes in gas-liquid membrane contactor applications, with PVDF showing clear advantages in commercial feasibility and hydrophobicity. This work represents a significant step towards sustainable, energy-efficient, and compact carbon capture technology, supporting global decarbonization efforts and the United Arab Emirates' Net Zero 2050 initiative.