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Efficient CO 2 /CH 4 Separation Using Polysulfone/NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) Mixed Matrix Membranes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This study investigates the fabrication and optimization of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti), a metal–organic framework (MOF), dispersed within a polysulfone (PSf) polymer matrix, for efficient CO 2 /CH 4 separation. The MMMs were prepared by using a solution casting method, and their morphology and gas separation performance were systematically characterized. The effect of MOF addition into the polymer matrix, gas permeability, and selectivity were evaluated using a gas permeation setup. Results indicate that incorporating NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) nanoparticles enhances the selectivity of the membranes for CO 2 over CH 4 compared to pure polymer membranes while maintaining acceptable permeability. The membrane morphology demonstrates the uniform distribution of the filler in the polymer matrix. The PSf/NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti)-15% membrane showed exceptional CO 2 permeability and selectivity performance. Specifically, it achieved a CO 2 permeability of 19.17 Barrer. Additionally, it exhibited a CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 31.95, indicating its ability to effectively differentiate between the CO 2 and CH 4 gases, which is critical for applications such as natural gas purification and carbon capture. Furthermore, the MMMs produced in this study showed outstanding resistance to CO 2 plasticization. The PSf/NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti)-15% membrane demonstrated superior pressure resistance, withstanding up to 14 bar without significant performance degradation compared to the pristine PSf membrane, which succumbed to plasticization at 4 bar. The enhanced plasticization resistance is attributed to incorporation of NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) into the PSf matrix. The combination of high CO 2 permeability, excellent selectivity, and robust plasticization resistance positions the PSf/NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti)-15% membrane as a highly effective solution for CO 2 separation applications. The results underscore the potential of these MMMs to achieve significantly better performance metrics than traditional PSf membranes, making them a promising option for industrial gas separation processes.

Source: ACS Omega

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c09251