Preparation and characterization of polyvinylchloride based mixed matrix membrane filled with multi walled carbon nano tubes for carbon dioxide separation

Abstract

Poly vinyl chloride/multi wall carbon nano tubes (PVC/MWCNTs) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared for gas separation. Raw and functionalized MWCNTs (R-MWCNTs and C-MWCNTs) were utilized in membranes preparation. The C-MWCNT shows better performance compared to raw ones. Membrane (CO2/CH4) selectivity was increased from 39.21 to 52.18 at 2bar pressure by MWCNT loading ratio. The modified membranes with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR-MMMs) showed 63.52 and 34.70 selectivity for (CO2/CH4) and (CO2/N2) at 2bar pressure. Mechanical properties analysis exhibited tensile module improvement utilizing blending modification. Increase of feed pressure led to membrane gas permeability decreasing. But gas pair selectivity follows a nearly constant behavior for MMMs and increasing behavior for blend MMMs.