Abstract
The use of a membrane contactor combined with a hydrophobic porous membrane and an amine absorbent has attracted considerable attention for the capture of CO 2 because of its extensive use, low operational costs, and low energy consumption. The hydrophobic porous membrane interface prevents the passage of the amine absorbent but allows the penetration of CO 2 molecules that are captured by the amine absorbent. Herein, highly porous SiO 2 aerogels modified with hydrophobic fluorocarbon functional groups (CF 3 ) were successfully coated onto a macroporous Al 2 O 3 membrane; their performance in a membrane contactor for CO 2 absorption is discussed. The SiO 2 aerogel membrane modified with CF 3 functional groups exhibits the highest CO 2 absorption flux and can be continuously operated for CO 2 absorption for extended periods of time. This study suggests that a SiO 2 aerogel membrane modified with CF 3 functional groups could potentially be used in a membrane contactor for CO 2 absorption. Also, the resulting hydrophobic SiO 2 aerogel membrane contactor is a promising technology for large-scale CO 2 absorption during the post-combustion process in power plants. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.