The CO2/CH4 Separation Potential of ZIF-8/Polysulfone Mixed Matrix Membranes at Elevated Particle Loading for Biogas Upgradation Process

Biogas is a renewable energy that has been explored widely in Indonesia to substitute non-renewable energy. However, the presence of certain gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), can decrease the calorific value and generate greenhouse gas. Hence, the separation of CO2 from methane (CH4) occurs as a crucial step to improve the utilization of biogas. The separation of CH4/CO2 can be conducted using a polymeric membrane that needs no chemical, hence considered as an environmentally friendly technique. However, the utilization of polymeric membrane in gas separation processes is hampered by the trade-off between gas throughput and selectivity. To solve this problem, the incorporation of inorganic particles, such as Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) particles, into the polymer matrix to improve the gas separation performance of the membrane has been conducted recently. In this research, ZIF-8 has been incorporated into Polysulfone matrix to form ZIF-8/Polysulfone-based membrane by simple blending and phase inversion techniques in flat sheet configuration. The pure gas permeation tests showed an increase in gas permeability (26 Barrer compared to 17 Barrer) after the inclusion of ZIF-8 particles with a slight decrease in CO2/CH4selectivity for particle loading more than 15wt. %. Therefore, the membrane with 15wt. % of particles showed the best performance in terms of gas selectivity. This result was due to the aggregation of ZIF-8 particles at particle loading higher than 15wt. %. Chemical analysis indicated an interaction between filler and polymer, and there were increases in the degree of crystallinity after the incorporation of ZIF-8.

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Integration of Stable Ionic Liquid-Based Nanofluids into Polymer Membranes. Part II: Gas Separation Properties toward Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11030582 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 582

Author(s):

Fernando Pardo ◽

Sergio V. Gutiérrez-Hernández ◽

Carolina Hermida-Merino ◽

João M. M. Araújo ◽

Manuel M. Piñeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

Gas Separation ◽

Value Added ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Gas ◽

Neat Polymer ◽

Stable Suspension ◽

Base Polymer

Membrane technology can play a very influential role in the separation of the constituents of HFC refrigerant gas mixtures, which usually exhibit azeotropic or near-azeotropic behavior, with the goal of promoting the reuse of value-added compounds in the manufacture of new low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant mixtures that abide by the current F-gases regulations. In this context, the selective recovery of difluorometane (R32, GWP = 677) from the commercial blend R410A (GWP = 1924), an equimass mixture of R32 and pentafluoroethane (R125, GWP = 3170), is sought. To that end, this work explores for the first time the separation performance of novel mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) functionalized with ioNanofluids (IoNFs) consisting in a stable suspension of exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP) into a fluorinated ionic liquid (FIL), 1-ethyl-3-methylpyridinium perfluorobutanesulfonate ([C2C1py][C4F9SO3]). The results show that the presence of IoNF in the MMMs significantly enhances gas permeation, yet at the expense of slightly decreasing the selectivity of the base polymer. The best results were obtained with the MMM containing 40 wt% IoNF, which led to an improved permeability of the gas of interest (PR32 = 496 barrer) with respect to that of the neat polymer (PR32 = 279 barrer) with a mixed-gas separation factor of 3.0 at the highest feed R410A pressure tested. Overall, the newly fabricated IoNF-MMMs allowed the separation of the near-azeotropic R410A mixture to recover the low-GWP R32 gas, which is of great interest for the circular economy of the refrigeration sector.

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Gas Permeation Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Polyether Block Amide (Pebax-1657)/Polyethersulfone(PES) Blend Mixed Matrix Membrane for CO2/CH4 Separation

Solid State Phenomena ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.307.258 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 307 ◽

pp. 258-263

Author(s):

Nabilah Fazil ◽

Hilmi Mukhtar ◽

Dzeti Farhah Mohshim ◽

Rizwan Nasir

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Gas Permeability ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Polymeric Membrane ◽

Mixed Matrix Membrane ◽

Inversion Method ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Multiwalled Carbon

Mixed matrix membrane (MMM), a developing research area, is a membrane formed by incorporating fillers in the polymeric membrane to enhance gas separation performance. In this study, MMMs comprised of blend rubbery block copolymers of polyether block amide (Pebax-1657) with a glassy polyethersulfone (PES) polymer and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by dry phase inversion method and explored further by gas permeability test. Pebax-1657/PES/MWCNTs membrane resulted in an increased permeability as well as CO2/CH4 selectivity. The Pebax-1657/PES polymer blend MMM with 10wt% of MWCNTs has shown the most superior performance of CO2 permeability, CH4 permeability and CO2/CH4 selectivity in comparison with the pure Pebax-1657 resulted in 66.3% and 11.6% difference respectively.

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The prospect of synthesis of PES/PEG blend membranes using blend NMP/DMF for CO2/N2 separation

Journal of Polymer Research ◽

10.1007/s10965-021-02500-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Fadel Abdul Hadi Juber ◽

Zeinab Abbas Jawad ◽

Bridgid Lai Fui Chin ◽

Swee Pin Yeap ◽

Thiam Leng Chew

Keyword(s):

Gas Separation ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Membrane Separation ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Polymeric Membranes ◽

Polymeric Membrane ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Trade Off ◽

Blend Membranes

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been the root cause for anthropogenic climate change. Decarbonisation strategies, particularly carbon capture and storage (CCS) are crucial for mitigating the risk of global warming. Among all current CO2 separation technologies, membrane separation has the biggest potential for CCS as it is inexpensive, highly efficient, and simple to operate. Polymeric membranes are the preferred choice for the gas separation industry due to simpler methods of fabrication and lower costs compared to inorganic or mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). However, plasticisation and upper-bound trade-off between selectivity and permeability has limited the gas separation performance of polymeric membranes. Recently, researchers have found that the blending of glassy and rubbery polymers can effectively minimise trade-off between selectivity and permeability. Glassy poly(ethersulfone) (PES) and rubbery poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) are polymers that are known to have a high affinity towards CO2. In this paper, PEG and PES are reviewed as potential polymer blend that can yield a final membrane with high CO2 permeance and CO2/nitrogen (N2) selectivity. Gas separation properties can be enhanced by using different solvents in the phase-inversion process. N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) and Dimethylformamide (DMF) are common industrial solvents used for membrane fabrication. Both NMP and DMF are reviewed as prospective solvent blend that can improve the morphology and separation properties of PES/PEG blend membranes due to their effects on the membrane structure which increases permeation as well as selectivity. Thus, a PES/PEG blend polymeric membrane fabricated using NMP and DMF solvents is believed to be a major prospect for CO2/N2 gas separation.

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A Novel Composite Material UiO-66@HNT/Pebax Mixed Matrix Membranes for Enhanced CO2/N2 Separation

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11090693 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 693

Author(s):

Fei Guo ◽

Bingzhang Li ◽

Rui Ding ◽

Dongsheng Li ◽

Xiaobin Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Composite Material ◽

Gas Separation ◽

Halloysite Nanotubes ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Mixed Matrix Membrane ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Transport Pathways ◽

Gas Separation Performance

Mixing a polymer matrix and nanofiller to prepare a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) is an effective method for enhancing gas separation performance. In this work, a unique UiO-66-decorated halloysite nanotubes composite material (UiO-66@HNT) was successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method and dispersed into the Pebax-1657 matrix to prepare MMMs for CO2/N2 separation. A remarkable characteristic of this MMM was that the HNT lumen provided the highway for CO2 diffusion due to the unique affinity of UiO-66 for CO2. Simultaneously, the close connection of the UiO-66 layer on the external surface of HNTs created relatively continuous pathways for gas permeation. A suite of microscopy, diffraction, and thermal techniques was used to characterize the morphology and structure of UiO-66@HNT and the membranes. As expected, the embedding UiO-66@HNT composite materials significantly improved the separation performances of the membranes. Impressively, the as-obtained membrane acquired a high CO2 permeability of 119.08 Barrer and CO2/N2 selectivity of 76.26. Additionally, the presence of UiO-66@HNT conferred good long-term stability and excellent interfacial compatibility on the MMMs. The results demonstrated that the composite filler with fast transport pathways designed in this study was an effective strategy to enhance gas separation performance of MMMs, verifying its application potential in the gas purification industry.

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Investigation of the silica pore size effect on the performance of polysulfone (PSf) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for gas separation

Journal of Polymer Engineering ◽

10.1515/polyeng-2021-0055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Gholamhossein Vatankhah ◽

Babak Aminshahidy

Keyword(s):

Mesoporous Silica ◽

Pore Size ◽

Gas Separation ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Small Pore ◽

Mcm 41 ◽

Matrix Membranes

Abstract MCM-41 and SBA-15 mesoporous silica materials with different pore sizes (3.08 nm for small pore size MCM-41 (P 1), 5.89 nm for medium pore size SBA-15 (P 2), and 7.81 nm for large pore size SBA-15 (P 3)) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and then functionalized with 3-aminopropyltrietoxysilane by postsynthesis treatments. Next, polysulfone-mesoporous silica mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared by the solution casting method. The obtained materials and MMMs were characterized by various techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method to examine the crystallinity, morphology, and particle size, pore volume, specific surface area, and pore size distribution, respectively. Finally, the gas permeation rates of prepared MMMs were measured in 8 bar and 25 °C and the effect of pore size of modified and unmodified mesoporous silica on the gas separation performance of these MMMs were investigated. The experimental results indicate that the carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) permeability and CO2/CH4 selectivity were increased with an enhancement in the particle pore size.

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Preparation of Mixed Matrix Membranes Containing ZIF-8 and UiO-66 for Multicomponent Light Gas Separation

Crystals ◽

10.3390/cryst9010015 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 15 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Eun Kim ◽

Hyun Kim ◽

Donghwi Kim ◽

Jinsoo Kim ◽

Pyung Lee

Keyword(s):

Gas Separation ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Polymer Membrane ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Gas Mixture ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Neat Polymer ◽

H2 Permeability ◽

Matrix Membranes

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) containing zeolitic imidazolite framework-8 (ZIF-8) and UiO-66 as microporous fillers were prepared and evaluated their potential for the separation of a gas mixture produced by a methane reforming process. Hydrothermal synthesis was performed to prepare both the ZIF-8 and UiO-66 crystals, with crystal sizes ranging from 50 to 70 nm for ZIF-8 and from 200 to 300 nm for UiO-66. MMMs were prepared with 15% filler loading for both MMM (ZIF-8) and MMM (UiO-66). MMM (UiO-66) exhibited H2 permeability of 64.4 barrer and H2/CH4 selectivity of 153.3 for single gas permeation, which are more than twice the values that were exhibited by a neat polymer membrane. MMM (ZIF-8) also showed better separation properties than that of a neat polymer membrane with H2 permeability of 27.1 barrer and H2/CH4 selectivity of 123.2. When a gas mixture consisting of 78% Ar/18% H2/4% CH4 flowed into the membranes at 5 bar, the H2 purity increased to as high as 93%. However, no improvement in the mixture gas separation performance was achieved by the MMMs as compared to that of a neat polymer membrane.

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Membranes for Gas Separation Current Development and Challenges

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.773-774.1085 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 773-774 ◽

pp. 1085-1090 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Norwahyu Jusoh ◽

Yin Fong Yeong ◽

Kok Keong Lau ◽

Mohd Shariff Azmi

Keyword(s):

Gas Separation ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Membrane Technology ◽

Polymeric Membrane ◽

Inorganic Membrane ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Mixed Matrix Membrane ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Inorganic Membranes ◽

Mixed Matrix

—A new bang of natural gas demand has opened up the opportunities towards the utilization of membrane technology for the purification process.The advantages in terms of smaller footprint, lower weight, minimum utility requirement and low labor intensity make them appropriate for wide scale applications. Polymeric membrane is one of the greatest emerging fields in membrane material development. Nevertheless, the separation performance of the existing polymeric materials were reached a limit in the trade-off between permeability and selectivity. The development of inorganic material gives a significance improvement in membrane performance but it outrageously expensive for many applications and having complicated procedure during fabrication process have limit the application of inorganic membrane in gas separation. Thus, a rapid demand in membrane technology for gas separation and the effort toward seeking the membranes with higher permeability and selectivity has motivated the development of mixed matrix membrane. Mixed matrix membrane (MMM) which incorporating inorganic fillers in a polymer matrix is expected to overcome the limitations of the polymeric and inorganic membranes. Apart from an overview of the different membrane materials for gas separation, this paper also highlights the development of mixed matrix membrane and challenges in fabrication of mixed matrix membranes.

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Improved CO2/CH4 Separation Properties of Cellulose Triacetate Mixed–Matrix Membranes with CeO2@GO Hybrid Fillers

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11100777 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 777

Author(s):

Chhabilal Regmi ◽

Saeed Ashtiani ◽

Zdeněk Sofer ◽

Karel Friess

Keyword(s):

Gas Separation ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Inorganic Filler ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Hybrid Filler ◽

Hybrid Fillers ◽

Matrix Membranes

The study of the effects associated with the compatibility of the components of the hybrid filler with polymer matrix, which ultimately decide on achieving mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with better gas separation properties, is essential. Herein, a facile solution casting process of simple incorporating CeO2@GO hybrid inorganic filler material is implemented. Significant improvements in material and physico-chemical properties of the synthesized membranes were observed by SEM, XRD, TGA, and stress-strain measurements. Usage of graphene oxide (GO) with polar groups on the surface enabled forming bonds with ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles and CTA polymer and provided the homogeneous dispersion of the nanofillers in the hybrid MMMs. Moreover, increasing GO loading concentration enhanced both gas permeation in MMMs and CO2 gas uptakes. The best performance was achieved by the membrane containing 7 wt.% of GO with CO2 permeability of 10.14 Barrer and CO2/CH4 selectivity 50.7. This increase in selectivity is almost fifteen folds higher than the CTA-CeO2 membrane sample, suggesting the detrimental effect of GO for enhancing the selectivity property of the MMMs. Hence, a favorable synergistic effect of CeO2@GO hybrid fillers on gas separation performance is observed, propounding the efficient and feasible strategy of using hybrid fillers in the membrane for the potential biogas upgrading process.

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CARBON DIOXIDE/METHANE SEPARATION PERFORMANCE BY MIXED MATRIX MEMBRANE FROM POLYSULFONE/ HALLOYSITE NANOTUBES

Jurnal Teknologi ◽

10.11113/jt.v82.14309 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Noor Maizura Ismail ◽

Nur Afaliza Yusaini ◽

Jannah Jafa ◽

S. M. Anisuzzaman ◽

Chiam Chel Ken ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gas Separation ◽

Halloysite Nanotubes ◽

Skin Layer ◽

Gas Permeation ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Inorganic Filler ◽

Mixed Matrix Membrane ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Morphological Differences

Gas separation by using membrane-based technology is one of the rising technologies used in the industry. It has many advantages such as low in cost and energy consumption. However, this technology is limited because of the "trade-off" exists between permeability and selectivity of the membrane. Thus, in this study, an inorganic filler, halloysite nanotube is modified with 3-aminopropyl(triethoxysilane) and then incorporated into the polysulfone polymer and the performance of the mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) is investigated. MMMs were analyzed by using SEM, FTIR, tensile and gas permeation tests which studied the morphological differences, mechanical strength, and membrane permeability and selectivity towards CO2 and CH4 respectively. The performance of the MMMs was compared with neat membrane and MMMs with unmodified HNTs. SEM results show an increase of 111% on the thickness of the dense skin layer of MMMs with APTES-modified HNTs compared to the neat membrane and the MMMs with unmodified HNTs. Elongation at break for MMMs with 3-APTES-modified HNTs also increased to 24.22%. The gas separation performance of the MMMs with 3-APTES modified HNTs shows an overall increase of 25.37% in the membrane selectivity compared to MMMs with unmodified HNTs while when coating is done, the selectivity of the MMMs with 3-APTES modified HNTs shows an increase from 0.845 to 10.158 for a pressure of 2 bar showing that coating helps in increasing the selectivity of the membrane.

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PEEK–WC-Based Mixed Matrix Membranes Containing Polyimine Cages for Gas Separation

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26185557 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (18) ◽

pp. 5557

Author(s):

Marcello Monteleone ◽

Riccardo Mobili ◽

Chiara Milanese ◽

Elisa Esposito ◽

Alessio Fuoco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Coefficient ◽

Gas Separation ◽

Gas Permeability ◽

Time Lag ◽

Mixed Matrix Membranes ◽

Filler Materials ◽

Separation Performance ◽

Mixed Matrix ◽

Neat Polymer ◽

Matrix Membranes

Membrane-based processes are taking a more and more prominent position in the search for sustainable and energy-efficient gas separation applications. It is known that the separation performance of pure polymers may significantly be improved by the dispersion of suitable filler materials in the polymer matrix, to produce so-called mixed matrix membranes. In the present work, four different organic cages were dispersed in the poly(ether ether ketone) with cardo group, PEEK-WC. The m-xylyl imine and furanyl imine-based fillers yielded mechanically robust and selective films after silicone coating. Instead, poor dispersion of p-xylyl imine and diphenyl imine cages did not allow the formation of selective films. The H2, He, O2, N2, CH4, and CO2 pure gas permeability of the neat polymer and the MMMs were measured, and the effect of filler was compared with the maximum limits expected for infinitely permeable and impermeable fillers, according to the Maxwell model. Time lag measurements allowed the calculation of the diffusion coefficient and demonstrated that 20 wt % of furanyl imine cage strongly increased the diffusion coefficient of the bulkier gases and decreased the diffusion selectivity, whereas the m-xylyl imine cage slightly increased the diffusion coefficient and improved the size-selectivity. The performance and properties of the membranes were discussed in relation to their composition and morphology.

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