Open AccessImpact of heavy hydrocarbon impurities on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane stability
Author(s) -
Syafiqa M. Saleh,
Zhe Phak Chan,
Feng-Cheng Chang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/1195/1/012007
Subject(s) - polytetrafluoroethylene , membrane , thermal stability , chemical engineering , hydrocarbon , impurity , benzene , toluene , materials science , heptane , polymer chemistry , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Membrane contactor technology has attained considerable attention as a promising technology to reduce CO 2 content in natural gas. In this study, the main objective is to investigate the effect of heavy hydrocarbons impurities, often present in natural gas, on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fibre membrane. The membranes were immersed for months in n-heptane, 1-decene, benzene and toluene, and analysed periodically through its surface morphology, composition, functional groups, hydrophobicity, and thermal stability. The characteristics of PTFE fibres remained unchanged even after long term exposure with heavy hydrocarbons. This study provides a better understanding of the robustness of using PTFE membrane fibre for CO 2 removal in membrane contactor system.