Enhanced permeation performance of polyether-polyamide block copolymer membranes through incorporating ZIF-8 nanocrystals

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2016.11.007

Abstract

Abstract: Membrane-based CO₂ separation is a promising alternative in terms of energy and environmental issues to other conventional techniques. Polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Pebax) membranes are promising for CO₂ separation because of their excellent selectivity, but limited by their moderate gas permeability. In this study, fresh-prepared zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals were integrated into the Pebax^®1657 matrices to form mixed matrix membranes. The resulting membrane exhibits significantly improved CO₂ permeability (as high as 300% increase), without the sacrifice of the selectivity, to the pristine polymer membrane. Several physical characterization techniques were employed to confirm the good interfacial interaction between ZIF-8 fillers and Pebax matrices. The effect of added ZIF-8 fillers on the transport mechanism through MMMs is also explored. Mixed-gas permeation for both CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ was also evaluated. The separation performance for CO₂/CH₄ mixtures on the ZIF-8/Pebax MMMs is very close to the Roberson upper bound, and thus is technologically attractive for purification of natural gas.

Key words: Membrane, Separation, Carbon dioxide, Mixed matrix membrane, Metal-organic framework

摘要： Membrane-based CO₂ separation is a promising alternative in terms of energy and environmental issues to other conventional techniques. Polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Pebax) membranes are promising for CO₂ separation because of their excellent selectivity, but limited by their moderate gas permeability. In this study, fresh-prepared zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals were integrated into the Pebax^®1657 matrices to form mixed matrix membranes. The resulting membrane exhibits significantly improved CO₂ permeability (as high as 300% increase), without the sacrifice of the selectivity, to the pristine polymer membrane. Several physical characterization techniques were employed to confirm the good interfacial interaction between ZIF-8 fillers and Pebax matrices. The effect of added ZIF-8 fillers on the transport mechanism through MMMs is also explored. Mixed-gas permeation for both CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ was also evaluated. The separation performance for CO₂/CH₄ mixtures on the ZIF-8/Pebax MMMs is very close to the Roberson upper bound, and thus is technologically attractive for purification of natural gas.

关键词: Membrane, Separation, Carbon dioxide, Mixed matrix membrane, Metal-organic framework

Longwei Xu, Long Xiang, Chongqing Wang, Jian Yu, Lixiong Zhang, Yichang Pan. Enhanced permeation performance of polyether-polyamide block copolymer membranes through incorporating ZIF-8 nanocrystals[J]. , 2017, 25(7): 882-891.

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