A flat-plate gas-liquid membrane contactor with inserting the 3D printed turbulent promoters was explored to effectively enhance the CO2 absorption by using aqueous amine solutions (MEA). The CO2 absorption efficiency enhancement was achieved in the channel by inserting the 3D printed turbulence promoters as compared to that of the device without inserting turbulence promoters (empty channel). The theoretical model and experimental work were performed to predict and optimize CO2 absorption efficiency under concurrent- and countercurrent-flow operations for various operating and design conditions. The effect of mass transfer coefficients on the absorption efficiency and average Sherwood number were investigated with the absorbent MEA flow rate, CO2 gas feed flow rate, and inlet CO2 concentration as parameters. The experimental data validated the theoretical predictions of the CO2 absorption efficiency enhancement by inserting turbulence promoters. The purposes of this study are (1) to study the effects of various operating parameters on the CO2 absorption efficiency improvement; (2) to develop a one-dimensional mathematical model for predicting the CO2 absorption efficiency in gas-liquid membrane contactor with inserting the 3D printed turbulence promoter in the flow channel
