A new testing system to determine the O2/N2 mixed-gas permeation through hollow-fiber membranes with an oxygen analyzer

Abstract

A new testing system to determine the O2/N2 mixed-gas separation through hollow fiber membranes has been set up in this study. This system consists of an oxygen analyzer and two mass flow meters, with a total cost of less than S$10 000 (approximately US$6 000). Not only can it reduce the expense, but it also may eliminate some problems encountered when using gas chromatography (GC) in the mixed-gas separation. To validate the new system, two types of hollow-fiber membranes were tested. Experimental results show that the separation performance of the mixed gas agrees well with that of pure gas. It is concluded that the newly developed system may provide an economical alternative in determining the permeance and selectivity of hollow-fiber membranes specifically for mixed O2 and N2 separation. © 2006 American Chemical Society.