Green delamination of 2D LDH nanosheets incorporated in mixed matrix membrane for CO2 capture

Abstract

Carbon capture is a critical issue due to worsening global warming. Mixed matrix membranes incorporating 2D fillers have been attractive since they exhibit superior separation performance. In this study, the synthesis of ALDH was adjusted by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) intercalation and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) surface functionalization. Owing to this modification, the ALDH was delaminated in Pebax solutions, leading to a green process for fabricating 2D ALDH nanosheets incorporated in mixed matrix membranes. Due to the increased filler-polymer interfacial area produced by the ALDH nanosheets, CO2 passed through the membrane more quickly, which endowed the membrane with efficient CO2 separation performance. The optimal performance was obtained by adding 50 % PEGDME and 4 % ALDH to Pebax-1657, and the CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity were 460 barrer and 63, respectively. No toxic solvent was used in the process, providing an environmentally friendly method for fabricating 2D ALDH MMMs for efficient CO2 capture.