Effect of TiO₂ loading on the morphology and CO₂/CH₄ separation performance of PEBAX-based membranes

Abstract

Membranes have attracted much attention as economical methods for industrial chemical processes. The effects of the titanium dioxide nanoparticle load on the morphology and CO₂/CH₄ separation performance of poly (ether-block-amide) (PEBAX-1657) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were investigated from pressures of 3–12 bar and temperatures of 30°C–60°C. The PEBAX membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy and tensile strength analysis. The incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles into the polymeric MMMs improved the CO₂/CH₄ gas separation performance (both the permeability and selectivity) of the membranes. The CO₂ permeability and ideal CO₂/CH₄ selectivity values of the nanocomposite membrane loaded with 8 wt-% TiO₂ were 172.32 Barrer and 24.79, respectively whereas those of the neat membrane were 129.87 Barrer and 21.39, respectively.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

mixed matrix membrane / TiO₂ nanoparticles / PEBAX-1657 / CO₂/CH₄ separation

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) for supporting this research (Grant No. 96008182).

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