Abstract
Polyurethane (PU)-ZnO mixed matrix membranes (MMM) were fabricated and characterized for gas separation. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) test and an atomic-force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the physical properties and thermal stability of the membranes were improved through filler loading. Hydrogen Bonding Index, obtained from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), demonstrate that the degree of phase separation in PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % MMM was more than the neat PU, while in PU-ZnO 1.0 wt % MMM, the phase mixing had increased. Compared to the neat membrane, the CO2 permeability of the MMMs increased by 31% for PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % MMM and decreased by 34% for 1.0 wt % ZnO MMM. The CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 selectivities of PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % were 18.75 and 64.75, respectively.
Highlights
From an environmental standpoint, CO2 is one of the most significant greenhouse gases and its elimination is necessary, as it is responsible for global climate change [1,2].The most common approach for CO2 elimination is solvent absorption
Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are polymeric membranes filled withparticles uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix to increase the membrane performance
The IR results of the neat and MMMs indicated that the incorporation of ZnO up to 0.5 wt % in the PU‐ZnO MMM led to a phase separation indicated that the incorporation of ZnO up to 0.5 wt % in the PU-ZnO MMM led to a phase separation in the membrane, while in the PU‐ZnO 1.0 wt % MMM, it led to a phase mixing
Summary
CO2 is one of the most significant greenhouse gases and its elimination is necessary, as it is responsible for global climate change [1,2]. Bistricic et al studied the PU-nanosilica MMM They reported that the hydrogen bond formation between the nanosilica and the carbonyl groups in the soft segments of PU improved the rheological, thermal, mechanical and adhesive properties of the PU-nanosilica MMM [16]. Khosravi et al examined the role of the silica nanoparticles in the polyether and polyester of the PU MMMs for gas permeation [26] They reported that the polyether urethane-silica membranes had higher propane permeability and propane/methane selectivity. The gas permeation properties of a tiny amount of ZnO on the PU composite membrane were investigated As it is observed, all the studies on PU MMM have used 5–25% of nanoparticles. The membrane samples were characterised using precise analysing methods
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