Enhanced desulfurization performance of hybrid membranes using embedded hierarchical porous SBA-15

Abstract

The utilization of materials with a hierarchical porous structure as multi-functional additives is highly attractive in the preparation of hybrid membranes. In this study, novel hybrid membranes are designed by embedding hierarchical porous Santa Barbara Amorphous 15 (SBA-15) with a dual-pore architecture (micropores and mesopores) for pervaporation desulfurization. The SBA-15 with cylindrical mesopores provides molecular transport expressways to ensure improved permeability, while micropores on the wall have molecular sieving effects that are essential for the enhancement of permselectivity of thiophene molecules. Considering thiophene/n-octane mixture as a model system, the hybrid membrane with embedded 6 wt-% SBA-15 exhibits optimal pervaporation desulfurization performance with a permeation flux of 22.07 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and an enrichment factor of 6.76. Moreover, the detailed structure and properties of hybrid membranes are systematically characterized. This study demonstrates the immense potential of hierarchical porous materials as additives in membranes to simultaneously increase permeability and permselectivity.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

hybrid membranes / hierarchical porous SBA-15 / sieving effect / pervaporation / desulfurization

References

[1] Xiong J, Zhu W, Li H, Ding W, Chao Y, Wu P, Xun S, Zhang M, Li H. Few-layered graphene-like boron nitride induced a remarkable adsorption capacity for dibenzothiophene in fuels. Green Chemistry, 2015, 17(3): 1647–1656

[2] Voorde B V, Hezinová M, Lannoeye J, Vandekerkhove A, Marszalek B, Gil B, Beurroies I, Nachtigall P, Vos D D. Adsorptive desulfurization with CPO-27/MOF-74: An experimental and computational investigation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2015, 17(16): 10759–10766

[3] Song C. An overview of new approaches to deep desulfurization for ultra-clean gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. Catalysis Today, 2003, 86(1): 211–263

[4] Lin L, Zhang Y, Kong Y. Recent advances in sulfur removal from gasoline by pervaporation. Fuel, 2009, 88(10): 1799–1809

[5] Wu F, Lin L, Liu H, Liu H, Wang H, Qiu J, Zhang X. Synthesis of stable UiO-66 membranes for pervaporation separation of methanol/methyl tert-butyl ether mixtures by secondary growth. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, 544(2): 342–350

[6] Shao P, Huang R Y M. Polymeric membrane pervaporation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2007, 287(2): 162–179

[7] Deng Y H, Chen J T, Chang C H, Liao K S, Tung K L, Price W E, Yamauchi Y, Wu K C W. A drying-free, water-based process for fabricating mixed-matrix membranes with outstanding pervaporation performance. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2016, 55(41): 12793–12796

[8] Wang L, Wang N, Yang H, An Q, Li B, Ji S. Facile fabrication of mixed matrix membranes from simultaneously polymerized hyperbranched polymer/modified graphene oxide for MTBE/MeOH separation. Journal of Membrane Science, 2018, 559: 8–18

[9] Wang M, Wu H, Jin X, Yang C, He X, Pan F, Jiang Z, Wang C, Chen M, Zhang P, Cao X. Enhanced dehydration performance of hybrid membranes by incorporating fillers with hydrophilic-hydrophobic regions. Chemical Engineering Science, 2017, 178: 273–283

[10] Bae T H, Long J R. CO₂/N₂ separations with mixed-matrix membranes containing Mg₂(dobdc) nanocrystals. Energy & Environmental Science, 2013, 6(12): 3565–3569

[11] Yang D, Yang S, Jiang Z, Yu S, Zhang J, Pan F, Cao X, Wang B, Yang J. Polydimethyl siloxane-graphene nanosheets hybrid membranes with enhanced pervaporative desulfurization performance. Journal of Membrane Science, 2015, 487: 152–161

[12] Wang J, Li M, Zhou S, Xue A, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Zhong J. Controllable construction of polymer/inorganic interface for poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphitic carbon nitride hybrid pervaporation membranes. Chemical Engineering Science, 2018, 181: 237–250

[13] Dong L X, Huang X C, Wang Z, Yang Z, Wang X M, Tang C Y. A thin-film nanocomposite nanofiltration membrane prepared on a support with in situ embedded zeolite nanoparticles. Separation and Purification Technology, 2016, 166: 230–239

[14] Yu S, Jiang Z, Ding H, Pan F, Wang B, Yang J, Cao X. Elevated pervaporation performance of polysiloxane membrane using channels and active sites of metal organic framework CuBTC. Journal of Membrane Science, 2015, 481: 73–81

[15] Yu S, Pan F, Yang S, Ding H, Jiang Z, Wang B, Li Z, Cao X. Enhanced pervaporation performance of MIL-101(Cr) filled polysiloxane hybrid membranes in desulfurization of model gasoline. Chemical Engineering Science, 2015, 135: 479–488

[16] Choi J H, Jegal J, Kim W N. Fabrication and characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polymer blend membranes. Journal of Membrane Science, 2006, 284(1): 406–415

[17] Vu D Q, Koros W J, Miller S J. Mixed matrix membranes using carbon molecular sieves: I. Preparation and experimental results. Journal of Membrane Science, 2003, 211(2): 311–334

[18] Zhao D, Feng J, Huo Q, Melosh N, Fredrickson G H, Chmelka B F, Stucky G D. Triblock copolymer syntheses of mesoporous silica with periodic 50 to 300 angstrom pores. Science, 1998, 279(5350): 548–552

[19] Okumuş E, Gürkan T, Yılmaz L. Effect of fabrication and process parameters on the morphology and performance of a PAN-based zeolite-filled pervaporation membrane. Journal of Membrane Science, 2003, 223(1): 23–38

[20] Pechar T W, Kim S, Vaughan B, Marand E, Tsapatsis M, Jeong H K, Cornelius C J. Fabrication and characterization of polyimide-zeolite L mixed matrix membranes for gas separations. Journal of Membrane Science, 2006, 277(1-2): 195–202

[21] Heiranian M, Farimani A B, Aluru N R. Water desalination with a single-layer MoS₂ nanopore. Nature Communications, 2015, 6(1): 8616

[22] Vatani M, Raisi A, Pazuki G. Mixed matrix membrane of ZSM-5/poly (ether-block-amide)/polyethersulfone for pervaporation separation of ethyl acetate from aqueous solution. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2018, 263: 257–267

[23] Moermans B, Beuckelaer W D, Vankelecom I F J, Ravishankar R, Martens J A, Jacobs P A. Incorporation of nano-sized zeolites in membranes. Chemical Communications, 2000, 24(24): 2467–2468

[24] Bao M, Zhu G, Wang L, Wang M, Gao C. Preparation of monodispersed spherical mesoporous nanosilica-polyamide thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes via interfacial polymerization. Desalination, 2013, 309(3): 261–266

[25] Cheng X, Jiang Z, Cheng X, Yang H, Tang L, Liu G, Wang M, Wu H, Pan F, Cao X. Water-selective permeation in hybrid membrane incorporating multi-functional hollow ZIF-8 nanospheres. Journal of Membrane Science, 2018, 555: 146–156

[26] Pan F, Li W, Zhang Y, Sun J, Wang M, Wu H, Jiang Z. Hollow monocrystalline silicalite-1 hybrid membranes for efficient pervaporative desulfurization. AIChE Journal. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2019, 65(1):196–206

[27] Vattipalli V, Qi X, Dauenhauer P J, Fan W. Long walks in hierarchical porous materials due to combined surface and configurational diffusion. Chemistry of Materials, 2016, 28(21): 7852–7863

[28] Tseng H H, Itta A K, Weng T H, Li Y L. SBA-15/CMS composite membrane for H₂, purification and CO₂, capture: Effect of pore size, pore volume, and loading weight on separation performance. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2013, 180(11): 270–279

[29] Weng T H, Tseng H H, Wey M Y. Effect of SBA-15 texture on the gas separation characteristics of SBA-15/polymer multilayer mixed matrix membrane. Journal of Membrane Science, 2011, 369(1): 550–559

[30] Niu Y, Wang H, Zhu X, Song Z, Xie X, Liu X, Han J G Q, Ge Q. Ru supported on zirconia-modified SBA-15 for selective conversion of cellobiose to hexitols. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2014, 198(11): 215–222

[31] Liu W, Li Y, Meng X, Liu G, Hu S, Pan F, Wu H, Jiang Z, Wang B, Li Z, Cao X. Embedding dopamine nanoaggregates into a poly(dimethylsiloxane) membrane to confer controlled interactions and free volume for enhanced separation performance. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2013, 1(11): 3713–3723

[32] Cheng M Y, Pan C J, Hwang B J. Highly-dispersed and thermally-stable NiO nanoparticles exclusively confined in SBA-15: Blockage-free nanochannels. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2009, 19(29): 5193–5200

[33] Ma X J, Yu Y J, Xing J L, Yang T Q, Lam K F, Xue Q S, Albela B, Bonneviot L, Zhang K. Tailoring porosity and dimensionality of Co₃O₄ nanophase using channel interconnectivity control by steaming of nanocasting SBA-15. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2014, 200: 182–189

[34] Chen L, Zheng Z, Wang J, Wang J, Wang X. Mesoporous SBA-15 end-capped by PEG via L-cystine based linker for redox responsive controlled release. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2014, 185: 7–15

[35] Kruk M, Jaroniec M, Ko C H, Ryoo R. Characterization of the porous structure of SBA-15. Chemistry of Materials, 2000, 12(7): 1961–1968

[36] Nafisi V, Hägg M B. Development of dual layer of ZIF-8/PEBAX-2533 mixed matrix membrane for CO₂ capture. Journal of Membrane Science, 2014, 459(1): 244–255

[37] Bondar V I, Freeman B D, Pinnau I. Gas sorption and characterization of poly(ether-b-amide) segmented block copolymers. Journal of Polymer Science. Part B, Polymer Physics, 2015, 37(17): 2463–2475

[38] Nafisi V, Hägg M B. Development of nanocomposite membranes containing modified Si nanoparticles in PEBAX-2533 as a block copolymer and 6FDA-durene diamine as a glassy polymer. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014, 6(18): 15643–15652

[39] Ding H, Pan F, Mulalic E, Gomaa H, Li W, Yang H, Wu H, Jiang Z, Wang B, Cao X, Zhang P. Enhanced desulfurization performance and stability of Pebax membrane by incorporating Cu⁺, and Fe²⁺ ions co-impregnated carbon nitride. Journal of Membrane Science, 2017, 526: 94–105

[40] Rychlewska K, Kujawski W, Konieczny K. Pervaporative removal of organosulfur compounds (OSCs) from gasoline using PEBA and PDMS based commercial hydrophobic membranes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2017, 309: 435–444

[41] Pan F, Wang H, Li W, Zhang S, Sun J, Yang H, Wang M, Wang M, Zhou X, Liu X, Constructing rapid diffusion pathways in ultrapermeable hybrid membranes by hierarchical porous nanotubes. Chemical Engineering Science, 2019, 195: 609–618

[42] Pan F, Ding H, Li W, Song Y, Yang H, Wu H, Jiang Z, Wang B, Cao X. Constructing facilitated transport pathway in hybrid membranes by incorporating MoS₂ nanosheets. Journal of Membrane Science, 2018, 545: 29–37

[43] Mittal N, Nisola G M, Seo J G, Lee S P, Chung W J. Organic radical functionalized SBA-15 as a heterogeneous catalyst for facile oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-diformylfuran. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2015, 404: 106–114

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press