Evaluation of silica sodalite infused polysulfone mixed matrix membranes during H2/CO2 separation

Abstract

Global warming and environmental degradation have stimulated the drive towards the capture of large point source carbon emissions and reducing high energy intensity of industrial processes. Mixed membranes infused with high porosity silica sodalite are potential useful for pre-combustion CO2 capture. However, development of high quality mixed matrix membranes is a challenge. In this study, silica sodalite (SSOD) infused polysulfone (PSF) membranes were developed and evaluated for pre-combustion CO2 capture. The SSOD was obtained via topotactic conversion of layered silicates; and the membrane was prepared using the phase inversion method. The physicochemical nature of the SSOD and the SSOD/PSF was checked using XRD, SEM, and N2 physisorption at 77 K. Single gas permeation used to check membrane quality. N2 physisorption shows that the SSOD possesses higher surface area of 56.56 m2/g and pore volume of 0.181 cm3/g, when compared to that of the hydrothermally-synthesized hydroxy sodalite (HSOD) crystals (surface area: 27.43 m2/g; pore volume: 0.084 cm3/g). The SSOD/PSF membrane is asymmetric with higher mechanical strength than the ordinary PSF. Loading the PSF with SSOD enhanced its H2 permeance from 4.9 × 10−7 mol/m2·s·Pa but with a decrease in H2/CO2 separation factor from 2.2 to 0.6. While the enhanced H2 permeance is attributed to the enhanced porosity of the SSOD, the ideal selectivity is low but still within the values reported in literature. Increasing the SSOD loading up to 10 wt% enhanced the quality and performance of the PSF membrane, displaying H2 permeance of 6.5 × 10−7 mol/m2·s·Pa and a separation factor of 1.1. Though results reported in this study are promising, a robust synthesis protocol that will further enhance both the H2 selectivity and H2 permeance of the membrane is required. Furthermore, more studies are required on the process optimization and techno-economic feasibility for pre-combustion CO2 capture.