Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors are leading gas transfer devices that have been used in many industries around the world for over 20 years. Carbon dioxide removal, deoxygenation, nitrogenation and carbonation are all common applications. There are also many other applications where Liqui-Cel® Contactors can be applied, including ammonia, radon, H₂S, THM and TOC/NOC removal.

Capable of achieving < 1ppm CO₂ and < 1ppb O₂, Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors provide significant benefits to industrial processes by removing or adding gases to liquids. For example, carbon dioxide and oxygen removal can reduce the impact of corrosion on boilers and piping to protect capital investments and reduce operating costs. Removing these gases can also improve process efficiency and prevent negative impacts on production yields related to these dissolved gases. Because of their cleanliness and predictability, Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors are the standard degassing technology installed in ultrapure water systems for the Semiconductor, Microelectronics and many other industries.

Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors are also found in many gasification applications. In the beverage industry these devices are often used for nitrogenation and carbonation because they provide precision gas control.

Other degassing technologies,such as vacuum towers and forced draft deaerators are being rapidly displaced by Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors due to their smaller footprint, lower installation costs and the modular nature of membrane contactor systems. Contactors are easily piped together and can be readily expanded to meet growing capacity even after initial installation.

View the video below for more information on the technology.

Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors use a microporous hollow fiber membrane to add gases to and remove gases from liquids. The hollow fiber is knitted into an array and wrapped around a center tube inside of the contactor housing.

During typical operation, liquid flows over the shellside (outside) of the hollow fibers while a vacuum, strip gas, or both in combination, is applied to the lumenside (inside) of the fibers. Because the membrane is hydrophobic it acts as an inert support that allows direct contact between a gas and liquid phase without dispersion. Applying a higher pressure to the liquid stream relative to the gas stream creates the driving force for dissolved gas in the liquid to pass through the membrane pores.

The gas is carried away by the vacuum pump or sweep gas.