CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROPOROUS MEMBRANES FOR USE IN MEMBRANE CONTACTORS

Methods of selecting applicable membranes for use in membrane contacto rs for flue gas desulfurization are proposed in this paper. The mass t ransfer mechanism for SO2 diffusion through gas filled pores is explor ed by simple measurements in order to identify suitable membrane struc tures for use in contactors for flue gas cleaning. It is attempted to correlate the experimentally determined membrane mass transfer coeffic ient to intrinsic physical properties of the membrane by applying theo retical and empirical correlations for the porosity-tortuosity relatio nship of the porous structure. Thereby limiting fluxes can be predicte d with good accuracy from data quoted in the manufactures catalogue.