Nanosilica and H-Mordenite incorporated Poly(ether-block-amide)-1657 membranes for gaseous separations

Abstract

Two types of inorganic fillers – nanosilica and H-Mordenite were embodied into the Poly(ether-block-amide)-1657 polymer matrix to prepare mixed matrix membranes. Effect of filler loading and applied feed pressure on the performance of membranes was investigated. The distribution of fillers in the polymers, structural characteristics and interaction of fillers with polymer in membranes were scrutinized by SEM, FTIR and XRD. Single gas permeance of CO2, N2, H2 and O2 through the membranes was determined at ambient temperature (30°C). The embodiment of nanosilica into the polymer matrix enhanced the permeance of all gases and it was found that CO2 diffuses significantly through the nanosilica and polymer matrix when compared to other gases. For 0.3wt.% Si/Pebax membrane, with increasing pressure from 10 to 30kg/cm2, permeance enhanced from 8.9 to 36.1GPU for CO2, 1.1 to 3.5GPU for H2, 0.49 to 1.3GPU for O2 and 0.12 to 0.43GPU for N2. The effect of H-Mordenite loading had revised the permeance from 1.1 to 5.4GPU for CO2, 0.56 to 0.87GPU for H2, 0.09 to 0.39GPU for O2 and 0.03 to 0.205GPU for N2. With increasing pressure, a significant enhancement in selectivity of CO2/N2 was noticed for both Si/Pebax and H-Mordenite/Pebax membranes. Thus Pebax mixed matrix membranes provide a possible means for separation of CO2/N2 and enrichment of O2 and N2 from the air.