SBIR/STTR Phase II: Development of Stable Membrane-Based Gas-Liquid Contactors for SO2 Removal from Flue Gas

这个小型企业创新研究二期项目将展示膜式气液接触器的增强性能，以减少烟气中的SO2排放。烟道气中存在的二氧化硫参与了酸雨的形成，导致森林砍伐和农作物和财产的损害。在第一阶段，紧凑型膜系统公司(CMS)开发了一种无孔全氟聚合物复合膜，用于膜式气液接触器，使用含水吸收溶液去除烟气中的SO2。这种膜的设计目的是克服传统微孔载体的主要缺点，即微孔基质被(通常)水吸收剂逐渐湿润，在某些情况下，盐析出液-气界面。除了膜接触器的所有操作优势外，CMS膜还能持续提高SO2的脱除效率。在第一阶段，这种膜可以渗透SO2，洗涤模拟气流中的SO2，在相同条件下不比传统的微孔膜接触器好，而且即使暴露在酸化的二氧化硅悬浮液中，也没有表现出任何性能损失。第二阶段将扩大该过程以采用大型中试接触器，研究吸收再生技术，在中试燃烧器上演示整个过程，并证明与现有系统相比，CMS系统提供了更好的烟气脱除效率和经济性。提高基于膜的气液接触器的性能以减少烟气中的SO2排放，对矿石加工商、纸浆和造纸工业、许多石油和天然气加工商(特别是那些必须处理气体脱臭过程中的尾气的加工商)、使用煤炭作为燃料的发电厂等非常感兴趣。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will demonstrate theenhanced performance of membrane-based gas-liquid contactors to abate SO2emissions from flue gas. SO2 present in flue gas streams leads to deforestation anddamage to crops and property as a result of its participation in the formation of acidrain. In Phase I, Compact Membrane Systems, Inc. (CMS) developed a nonporousperfluorocopolymer composite membrane designed for use in membrane-based gasliquid contactors to scrub flue gas of SO2 using an aqueous absorbent solution. Thismembrane is designed to overcome the major drawbacks of conventionalmicroporous supports, i.e. progressive wetting out of the microporous substrate bythe (typically) aqueous absorbent and in some instances salt precipitation at theliquid-gas interface. In addition to all the operational advantages of membranecontactors, CMS membranes result in sustained improved SO2 removal efficiencies.During Phase I it was demonstrated that this membrane permeated SO2, scrubbed aflue gas simulant gas stream of SO2 as well as if not better than a conventionalmicroporous membrane contactor under identical conditions, and showed no loss inperformance despite exposure to an acidified silica suspension. Phase II will scale-upthe process to employ large pilot-scale contactors, study absorbent regenerationtechnologies, demonstrate the whole process on a pilot-scale combustor, anddemonstrate that the CMS system offers better efficiencies and economics of flue gasremoval compared to existing systems.The enhanced performance of membrane-based gas-liquid contactors to abate SO2emissions from flue gas is of considerable interest to ore processors, pulp and paperindustries, many oil and natural gas processors (particularly those which have totreat tail gases from gas sweetening processes), power plants employing coal as afossil fuel, etc.