Enhancing CO₂ desorption from amine solution using ceramic membrane contactor in falling film evaporation

Membrane contactors are promising energy-efficient candidates for enhancing CO₂ desorption from amine solution, however, minimizing mass transfer resistance in membrane pores remains challenging. Herein, we propose a falling film evaporation process utilizing a tubular hydrophilic porous ceramic membrane contactor to enhance CO₂ desorption. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, liquid permeate flux and falling film area on CO₂ desorption efficiency. Additionally, an equivalent factor was introduced to quantify the mass transfer efficiency ratio of CO₂ desorption flux obtained through the falling film approach in comparison to that achieved via a typical reboiler. Under identical vacuum desorption conditions, the falling film membrane contactor achieved an equivalent factor of approximately 0.80. This falling film desorption process can reduce the relative total equivalent work by 23.5 % compared to the conventional thermal-driven monoethanolamine (MEA) regeneration process. Furthermore, 60 repeated cycles of falling film CO₂ desorption experiments demonstrated the stable physical properties of the ceramic membrane. The falling film ceramic membrane contactor holds significant potential for practical application in enhancing CO₂ desorption and reducing energy requirements.