Synthesis and characterization of poly (ether‐block‐amide) mixed matrix membranes incorporated by nanoporous ZSM‐5 particles for CO2/CH4 separation

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, poly (ether‐block‐amide) (Pebax MH 1657) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared using nanoporous ZSM‐5 as a filler. The fabricated membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Effects of zeoilte loading (5, 10 and 15 wt. %), and feed pressure (1, 3 and 5 bar) on CO2/CH4 separation of MMMs were investigated using constant volume/variable pressure system. SEM analysis represents a proper morphology along with proper dispersion of ZSM‐5 particles within the polymer matrix. TGA analysis demonstrated that the thermal degradation temperature (Td) of MMMs increased by increasing the ZSM‐5 loading. The obtained experimental results showed that both permeability and CO2/CH4 selectivity enhanced by addition of zeolite compared to neat Pebax. At low concentration of zeolite (5 wt. %), the CO2 permeability increased significantly from 122.4 Barrer to 217.9 Barrer at pressure of 1 bar. MMM that incorporated by 15 wt. % of zeolite showed the best CO2/CH4 selectivity of 33.9 at pressure of 1 bar. The CO2 permeability of MMM with 5 wt. % ZSM‐5 enhanced from 217.9 to 292.4 Barrer with increase in feed pressure from 1 to 5 bar. Copyright © 2016 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.