(401q) Synthesis Parameter Optimization of Polyacrylonitrile Hollow Fiber Membrane for CO2 Separation from Flue Gases

CO₂ separation has been recognized as a potential approach to address the impacts of climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. Efficient separation technologies are required to effectively remove CO₂ from flue gases, enabling their widespread adoption. Membrane-based gas separation technology is much more compact, energy-efficient, and economical than other conventional technologies. In particular, polymeric membranes in hollow fiber configuration, though under development, are one of the next-generation, widely considered, promising technologies for CO₂ separation from flue gases produced by fossil fuel combustion. Therefore, this work aims to prepare a scalable and high-performing Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) hollow fiber membrane via optimized synthesis parameters for efficient CO₂ separation from flue gases. The scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals that there is a difference in morphology with the variation in synthesizing parameter of the prepared membranes. Also, the characterization results indicated that all the membranes had finger-like structures in their cross-section. The membranes underwent testing through pure gas experiments. The prepared HFMs showed high CO₂ permeability of 91166 Barrer and good CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 4.4. Interestingly, the membranes showed stable long-term separation performance for more than 7 days with the simulated flue gas. Based on the results obtained so far, it can be concluded that the prepared hollow fiber membrane holds promise to separate CO₂ from flue gases.