Incorporation of CoIII acetylacetonate and SNW-1 nanoparticles to tailor O2/N2 separation performance of mixed-matrix membrane

Abstract

Mixed-matrix membranes containing a porous organic framework (SNW-1 nanoparticles) and a cobalt-based complex (Co(acac)3) were fabricated using the solution-casting technique for potential applications in O2/N2 separation. The mixed-matrix membranes did not show any appreciable defects. In the following mixture gas permeation testing conducted with a binary mixture composed of 21% O2 and 79% N2 at 1 bar feed pressure and 35 °C, the mixed-matrix membranes containing SNW-1 nanoparticles showed an enhanced O2 permeability, whereas Co(acac)3 improved the O2/N2 selectivity. Hence, with a combination of both nanoparticles and a Cobalt complex in a polymer matrix, a clear synergistic enhancement in O2/N2 separation properties was reported, in which O2 permeability and O2/N2 selectivity were escalated by 33% and 18%, respectively. Solubility-diffusivity analysis in the mixed-matrix membranes revealed that SNW-1 and Co(acac)3 can improve O2 diffusivity and O2 solubility, respectively, resulting in an enhancement of both O2 permeability and O2/N2 selectivity for membranes containing both the nanoparticles and the cobalt complex. Future efforts will be focused on developing asymmetric hollow fiber membranes with thin skin layer comprising both SNW-1 and Co(acac)3.