Preparation, characterization, and gas permeation properties of blend membranes of polysulfone and polyethylene glycol inclusive alumina nanoparticles

Abstract

The effect of incorporation of alumina nanoparticles on the gas separation properties of the polysulfone–polyethylene glycol blend membranes containing 20% polyethylene glycol was examined. At first, a number of nanocomposite polysulfone–polyethylene glycol/alumina membranes were synthesized with alumina nanoparticles loaded into the polymer matrixes. The hybrid membranes were synthesized with six different alumina contents of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 wt%. The polysulfone–polyethylene glycol and their hybrids inclusive alumina membranes were prepared via thermal phase-inversion method. The membranes were initially characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction. Gas permeation properties of these membranes with different alumina contents were investigated for pure CO2, CH4, N2, and O2 gases. The results showed that not only these gases permeability but the CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and O2/N2 ideal selectivity were improved with increasing alumina nanoparticle content of the membrane as well. Also the effect of feed pressure on the permeation properties of these membranes was investigated for pure CO2 gas. Finally, the results from the synthesized membranes were compared with Robeson’s upper bound line.