Mixed matrix membrane development progress and prospect of using 2D nanosheet filler for CO2 separation and capture

Abstract

Over 250 years since the preindustrial period, carbon dioxide (CO2) atmospheric concentration rose from 275 ppm to 415 ppm currently. International worldwide efforts have focused on reducing yearly CO2 emission to the atmosphere to negate the effect of global warming. Gas separation membrane technology is a cost-effective alternative in CO2 removal and capture technology. Various materials have been studied for mixed matrix membrane (MMM) development to overcome the limitation of polymeric membrane. This review paper discusses the current progression of MMM for CO2 gas separation application. Zeolites, carbon nanotubes, metal oxides and clay minerals are among the fillers that are used to form MMM. Despite the promising advantage offered by MMM formed with these materials, they still face fundamental limitations such as surface incompatibility, agglomeration and formation of unselective voids. This paper reviewed the performance of the MMM fabricated with the conventional fillers and outlined its limitations, and emerging two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet fillers for MMM fabrication that has become the focus in recent publications. This paper also discusses the future prospect of using 2D nanosheet for MMM fabrication and the important factors that need to be considered in improving the currently existing MMM with 2D nanosheet materials.