Effect of nano Zinc Oxide on gas permeation through mixed matrix poly (Amide-6-b-Ethylene Oxide)-based membranes

Document Type : Reasearch Paper

Authors

• Mahdi Sheikh ¹
• Morteza Asghari ^{1, 2}
• Morteza Afsari ³

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

² Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

³ Energy Research Institute, University of Kashan, Ghotb-e-Ravandi Ave., Kashan, Iran

10.22034/ijnd.2017.24374

Abstract

Poly (amide-6-b-ethylene oxide)/Zinc Oxide (PEBA/ZnO) mixed matrix membranes were fabricated using ethanol/water as solvent by solvent casting method. The concentration of ZnO in membrane was set to 0.1 wt.% and the synthesized membranes were characterized by AFM and FTIR. Effects of ZnO nanoparticle on CO₂, CH₄ and N₂ permeabilities, and CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ selectivities of the membranes were investigated at the ambient temperature and pressure range of 4–12 bar. The results revealed that the CO₂ permeability of the nano-composite membrane increased 158 % with pressure, from 54.08 barrer (at 4 bar) to 139.59 barrer (at 12 bar). Furthermore, CO₂ permeability for the nano-composite membrane was higher than neat polymeric membrane. The PEBA/ZnO nano-composite membranes thus provide a promising potential for CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ separation.

Keywords

• CO2 permeation
• Gas separation
• Mixed Matrix Membrane
• PEBA
• Nano-composite
• ZnO

20.1001.1.20088868.2017.8.1.4.1

Main Subjects

• Nanochemistry
• Nanocomposite
• Nanomaterial
• Nanotechnology

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