Novel membrane contactor using ionic liquids for pre-combustion CO2 capture

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The project entitled MCIL-CO2 - Novel membrane contactor using ionic liquids for pre-combustion CO2 capture, is aimed to develop an environmentally friendly new solution with high separation efficiency and low energy consumption for CO2 capture from pre-c ombustion power plant emission. In pre-combustion process, CO2/H2 separation is an important step to purify H2 from the water-gas shift reaction products and hence avoid CO2 emission. The selective separation of CO2 from H2 at elevated temperatures is the key challenge for this process since this reaction is equilibrium limited and only occurs at appreciable rates at 15-20 bar and temperatures 190-210oC. As an approach to the CO2/H2 separation at elevated temperature and pressures, a membrane contactor pr ocess using specifically tailored ionic liquids (ILs) as CO2 absorbents is proposed. This ILs membrane contactor process takes advantages of membrane separation, absorption and ionic liquids, and is expected to have high CO2/H2 separation efficiecy (with high CO2, H2 purity and H2 recovery), small footprint, low energy consumption and reduced pollution, bringing in clearly positive impact not only on the climate, but also to the natural environment in a long term. Despite of all these advantages, reports on membrane contactors with ionic liquids as absorbents for CO2/H2 separation at elevated temperature and pressures can barely be found.