Efficient CO 2 Absorption through Wet Membrane Falling Film Contactors: Insights from Modeling and Simulation

Abstract This study investigates the use of wet membrane falling liquid film contactors to enhance the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a monoethanolamine (MEA) aqueous solution. Simulation and modeling analysis were performed to assess the effectiveness of the contactors in capturing CO2. The study analyzed the membrane surface area, flow rates, gas-liquid contact time, and solvent loading to investigate the CO2 absorption process in a falling film membrane contactor (FFMC). The results show that using FFMC significantly increases the CO2 capture rate compared to wet membranes. The study provides valuable insights into the use of contactors for CO2 capture and can serve as a basis for further research in this field. The study employed the finite element analysis method-based COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 simulation software to conduct a numerical simulation of the CO2 mass transfer process in the FFMC system. The simulation model's accuracy was tested by comparing the simulated CO2 absorption efficiency and flux values in the MEA solution with experimental data. The results showed a favorable agreement between the predicted and experimental values, with an average relative error of approximately 4.3%. These findings suggest that the falling film membrane contactor approach holds significant potential for commercial applications in CO2 capture.