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

Authors

• Mahdi Sheikh ¹
• Morteza Asghari ²
• Morteza Afsari ³

1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran
2. Department of chemical engineering, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
3. Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.

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

• PEBA
• Nano Composite
• ZnO
• Gas separation
• CO2 permeation
• Mixed Matrix Membrane