Homogenization of the Dense Composite
Membranes for Carbon Dioxide
Separation
Dragutin Nedeljkovic
Abstract A possible approach to the carbon dioxide removal from flue gases is
application of the dense composite membrane (matrix: polymer material; dispersed
phase: zeolite powder). This type of membrane is based on a solution-diffusion
mechanism. Carbon dioxide is dissolved in the membrane bulk, and then diffuses
to the permeate side. A successful membrane should have high permeability of
the carbon dioxide and low permeability for all other gasses commonly present
in the combustion process (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen…). The main challenge is
to provide good contact between long and usually hydrophobic polymer chains and
relatively small, but electrically charged, zeolite particles. Two different polymers
and four different zeolites were tested for this purpose. As the polymer bulk material,
different co-polymers of ethylene-oxide and phthalimide were used. Five different
zeolite powders in combination with two different potential additives were tested.
Keywords Polymers · Zeolite powder · Carbon dioxide separation · Composite
membranes
Introduction
Increased demand for energy, and the combustion of fossil fuels as the main source
of it, has significantly increased the amount of the flue gases that are emitted into
the atmosphere in recent decades. Waste gases are formed not only as a consequence
of industrial combustion processes, but also as products of communal processes
important for day-to-day life of the population. Typical examples of huge emitters of
carbon dioxide include (but are not limited to) power plants, heating plants, process
industry, and automobile engines. As a consequence, the emission of carbon dioxide
has rapidly increased, which has led to global warming and increased greenhouse
effect [1, 2]. As currently renewable energy sources cannot provide a feasible alternative to the fossil fuels and combustion processes on the global scale, removal of carbon
D. Nedeljkovic (B)
College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Kuwait City,
Kuwait
e-mail: Dragutin.Nedeljkovic@aum.edu.kw
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
A. A. Baba et al. (eds.), Energy Technology 2021, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65257-9_6
51
Membranes for Carbon Dioxide
Separation
Dragutin Nedeljkovic
Abstract A possible approach to the carbon dioxide removal from flue gases is
application of the dense composite membrane (matrix: polymer material; dispersed
phase: zeolite powder). This type of membrane is based on a solution-diffusion
mechanism. Carbon dioxide is dissolved in the membrane bulk, and then diffuses
to the permeate side. A successful membrane should have high permeability of
the carbon dioxide and low permeability for all other gasses commonly present
in the combustion process (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen…). The main challenge is
to provide good contact between long and usually hydrophobic polymer chains and
relatively small, but electrically charged, zeolite particles. Two different polymers
and four different zeolites were tested for this purpose. As the polymer bulk material,
different co-polymers of ethylene-oxide and phthalimide were used. Five different
zeolite powders in combination with two different potential additives were tested.
Keywords Polymers · Zeolite powder · Carbon dioxide separation · Composite
membranes
Introduction
Increased demand for energy, and the combustion of fossil fuels as the main source
of it, has significantly increased the amount of the flue gases that are emitted into
the atmosphere in recent decades. Waste gases are formed not only as a consequence
of industrial combustion processes, but also as products of communal processes
important for day-to-day life of the population. Typical examples of huge emitters of
carbon dioxide include (but are not limited to) power plants, heating plants, process
industry, and automobile engines. As a consequence, the emission of carbon dioxide
has rapidly increased, which has led to global warming and increased greenhouse
effect [1, 2]. As currently renewable energy sources cannot provide a feasible alternative to the fossil fuels and combustion processes on the global scale, removal of carbon
D. Nedeljkovic (B)
College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Kuwait City,
Kuwait
e-mail: Dragutin.Nedeljkovic@aum.edu.kw
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
A. A. Baba et al. (eds.), Energy Technology 2021, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65257-9_6
51