Membranes used for generating oxygen-enriched gas and carbon dioxide separation during waste-to-energy (WTE) conversion

Abstract

The challenges of sustainable waste management and greenhouse gas emissions have led to the exploration of membrane technology as a viable solution for generating oxygen-enriched gas (OEG) and separating carbon dioxide in waste-to-energy (WTE) conversion processes. While previous research has shown the potential of membrane technology in various industrial processes, its application in WTE conversion is still limited due to the permeability-selectivity trade-off. This study aims to evaluate the performance of polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fibre membrane with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating and Matrimid hollow fibre membrane for possible application in WTE technology. The results show that membrane-based OEG production and carbon-capturing processes in WTE plants are technically feasible and highly competitive. Lab-scale and scaled-up efficiency evaluations of PES hollow fibre membrane with PDMS coating, in ½ inch and 4-inch modules, achieved oxygen purity of approximately 35% and an OEG flow rate of approximately 25 L/min. However, the PES hollow fibre membrane exhibited limited to no selectivity for CO2/N2 separation. In contrast, the use of commercially established Matrimid hollow fibre membranes in small-scale testing proved to be very effective in achieving excellent CO2/N2 separation results.