Elucidating coupling dynamics of mass transfer and chemical absorption in slug-flow microchannels with tuned wall wettability
Elucidating coupling dynamics of mass transfer and chemical absorption in slug-flow microchannels with tuned wall wettability
The wettability of the channel walls plays a crucial role in determining the flow hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics of gas–liquid two-phase flows in microchannel reactors. However, the dynamics of mass transfer coupled with chemical absorption remain to be fully understood. In this study, PMMA-made microchannels were modified to achieve contact angles of 10°, 40° and 70° under optimized conditions, and their effects on gas bubble formation, length, and flow velocity were characterized. This was followed by a quantitative analysis of mass transfer in both CO 2-MEA and CO 2-H 2O systems. It was found that bubble length increased with greater channel wettability and lower liquid-phase flow rate, while also becoming longer with higher gas-phase flow rates. Bubble velocity decreased with increasing channel wettability at any given position along the channel, and in the CO 2-H 2O system it remained significantly greater than in the CO 2-MEA system downstream of the main channel. Based on experimental observations and Higbie's unsteady state diffusion theory, a novel semi-empirical model was developed to quantitatively characterize the dynamics of gas–liquid mass transfer in slug flow coupled with chemical absorption along microchannels. The calculated values of the overall volumetric liquid phase mass transfer coefficient showed good agreement with the experimental results. This work provides valuable insights for the design and optimization of compact, high-efficiency gas–liquid contactors, which are critical for advancing next-generation CO₂ capture technologies.
Mass transfer, Microchannel, Microreactor, Slug flow, Wettability
Wang, Qingqiang
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Li, Quan
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Liu, Xuancheng
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Zhang, Xunli
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Wang, Caipeng
bec76fe1-abde-4881-8b46-eae0b9e14932
Chen, Ying
9a4a22a1-dad7-4240-a3c2-ef2d419a9465
Jin, Nan
4c238610-7344-4b96-aeef-f039b663691c
Zhao, Yuchao
0b5eafdf-0011-4a02-840f-e5b88b61a708
24 July 2025
Wang, Qingqiang
9fcf20bc-ee0e-4095-8733-303e9c53b4bc
Li, Quan
a6157384-7a3c-4a2f-b4f6-b9ffb722d7de
Liu, Xuancheng
354d7bf2-0666-476d-a4c8-f23f789bd386
Zhang, Xunli
d7cf1181-3276-4da1-9150-e212b333abb1
Wang, Caipeng
bec76fe1-abde-4881-8b46-eae0b9e14932
Chen, Ying
9a4a22a1-dad7-4240-a3c2-ef2d419a9465
Jin, Nan
4c238610-7344-4b96-aeef-f039b663691c
Zhao, Yuchao
0b5eafdf-0011-4a02-840f-e5b88b61a708
Wang, Qingqiang, Li, Quan, Liu, Xuancheng, Zhang, Xunli, Wang, Caipeng, Chen, Ying, Jin, Nan and Zhao, Yuchao
(2025)
Elucidating coupling dynamics of mass transfer and chemical absorption in slug-flow microchannels with tuned wall wettability.
Chemical Engineering Science, 319, [122274].
(doi:10.1016/j.ces.2025.122274).
Abstract
The wettability of the channel walls plays a crucial role in determining the flow hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics of gas–liquid two-phase flows in microchannel reactors. However, the dynamics of mass transfer coupled with chemical absorption remain to be fully understood. In this study, PMMA-made microchannels were modified to achieve contact angles of 10°, 40° and 70° under optimized conditions, and their effects on gas bubble formation, length, and flow velocity were characterized. This was followed by a quantitative analysis of mass transfer in both CO 2-MEA and CO 2-H 2O systems. It was found that bubble length increased with greater channel wettability and lower liquid-phase flow rate, while also becoming longer with higher gas-phase flow rates. Bubble velocity decreased with increasing channel wettability at any given position along the channel, and in the CO 2-H 2O system it remained significantly greater than in the CO 2-MEA system downstream of the main channel. Based on experimental observations and Higbie's unsteady state diffusion theory, a novel semi-empirical model was developed to quantitatively characterize the dynamics of gas–liquid mass transfer in slug flow coupled with chemical absorption along microchannels. The calculated values of the overall volumetric liquid phase mass transfer coefficient showed good agreement with the experimental results. This work provides valuable insights for the design and optimization of compact, high-efficiency gas–liquid contactors, which are critical for advancing next-generation CO₂ capture technologies.
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Accepted_CES-D-25-03201_R1
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Accepted/In Press date: 23 July 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 23 July 2025
Published date: 24 July 2025
Keywords:
Mass transfer, Microchannel, Microreactor, Slug flow, Wettability
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 504939
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/504939
ISSN: 0009-2509
PURE UUID: bd24296a-bd75-40ef-b9f2-92ce60962ddd
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Date deposited: 22 Sep 2025 17:01
Last modified: 23 Sep 2025 01:44
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Contributors
Author:
Qingqiang Wang
Author:
Quan Li
Author:
Xuancheng Liu
Author:
Caipeng Wang
Author:
Ying Chen
Author:
Nan Jin
Author:
Yuchao Zhao
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