Polymeric hollow fiber sorbents were functionalized with amine moieties for improving the carbon dioxide sorption capacity from flue gas to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. Three different experimental pathways were studied to form the amine-functionalized hollow fiber sorbents. Aminosilane functionalized cellulose acetate (CA) fibers, polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized polyamide-imide (PAI, Torlon®) fibers and PEI post-infused and functionalized Torlon®-silica fibers were formed. CO2 equilibrium sorption capacity data were collected by using the pressure decay sorption cell and thermal gravimetric analyzer. Other physio-chemical properties of the amine-functionalized fiber sorbents were characterized by using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and scanning electronic microscopy. Different reaction conditions were studied on the effect of sorption isotherms. Aminosilane-CA fibers were the first proof-of-concept for forming the amine functionalized polymer hollow fibers. PEI-PAI fibers were designed as a new method to reach enhanced sorption capacities than Aminosilane-functionalized CA fibers. PEI post-infused and functionalized Torlon®-silica fibers have further enhanced sorption capacity; however they easily degrade with similar reaction for forming PEI-PAI fibers. Lumen-side barrier layers were created successfully via post-treatment technique of using the crosslinked Neoprene® polymer onto PEI-functionalized PAI fibers. PEI-functionalized PAI fibers also have good cyclic stability and low heat of sorption.

Polymeric hollow fiber sorbents were functionalized with amine moieties for improving the carbon dioxide sorption capacity from flue gas to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. Three different experimental pathways were studied to form the amine-functionalized hollow fiber sorbents. Aminosilane functionalized cellulose acetate (CA) fibers, polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized polyamide-imide (PAI, Torlon® fibers and PEI post-infused and functionalized Torlon®-silica fibers were formed. CO₂ equilibrium sorption capacity data were collected by using the pressure decay sorption cell and thermal gravimetric analyzer. Other physio-chemical properties of the amine-functionalized fiber sorbents were characterized by using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and scanning electronic microscopy. Different reaction conditions were studied on the effect of sorption isotherms. Aminosilane-CA fibers were the first proof-of-concept for forming the amine functionalized polymer hollow fibers. PEI-PAI fibers were designed as a new method to reach enhanced sorption capacities than Aminosilane-functionalized CA fibers. PEI post-infused and functionalized Torlon®-silica fibers have further enhanced sorption capacity; however they easily degrade with similar reaction for forming PEI-PAI fibers. Lumen-side barrier layers were created successfully via post-treatment technique of using the crosslinked Neoprene® polymer onto PEI-functionalized PAI fibers. PEI-functionalized PAI fibers also have good cyclic stability and low heat of sorption.

Post-combustion carbon capture, wherein the CO2 produced as a result of coal combustion is trapped at the power plant exhaust, is seen as a bridging technology to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change. This capture process will however impose a parasitic load on the power plant and technologies need to be developed to minimize this energy penalty. This research focuses on a technology which uses solid sorbents fashioned into a hollow fiber form that allows water-moderated thermal cycling as a means of trapping CO2 from flue gas. While hollow fiber technology has intrinsic advantages over competing liquid amine and packed bed technologies, the materials used to fabricate hollow fibers and the fabrication process itself need to be optimized in order to result in competitive, robust hollow fiber sorbents. This dissertation focuses on the material selection process for each component of the hollow fiber platform and discusses ways to optimize the fiber and barrier layer formation. Different materials were evaluated to function as the solid sorbent, the matrix polymer and the barrier layer; and eventually their performance was measured against past work in this area.