Nano composite PEBAX® membranes: Effect of zeolite X filler on CO2 permeation

Authors

• A. Mahmoudi ¹
• M. Namdari ¹
• V. Zargar ¹
• G. Khanbabaei ²
• M. Asghari ³

1. Separation processes research group (SPRG), Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.
2. Polymer Science & Technology Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran.
3. Energy Research Institute, University of Kashan, Ghotb-e-Ravandi Ave., Kashan, Iran.

Abstract

A PEBAX-nano zeolite X mixed matrix membrane was fabricated and operationally characterized using single gas (CO₂) permeation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to study the arrangement of polymer chains of mixed matrix membrane. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study cross-sectional morphology. The single gas permeability were carried out for neat PEBAX and PEBAX-nano zeolite X (10 wt. %) membranes. Operating pressures varied from 6 to 14 bars. CO₂ permeability for the nano-composite membrane was higher than the neat polymer membrane and increased with pressure. Adding 10 wt.% of nanozeolite X into the polymeric matrix caused CO₂ permeability to increase. Both structurally and operationally characterizations revealed the defect-free structure of the nano composite membrane.

Keywords

• Nanocomposite
• Mixed Matrix Membrane
• CO2
• Zeolite X
• PEBAX®