Nano-porous Zeolite and MOF Filled Mixed Matrix Membranes for Gas Separation

Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, 2-16-1 Tokiwadai, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi 7558611, Japan

^* Corresponding author: tnkkzhr@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp

Abstract

The commercial SAPO-34 zeolite with 0.38 nm pore size and ZIF-8 particles with 0.34 nm aperture size were separately dispersed into different polymer matrix, to prepare the mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for gas separation. The dispersed situation of the SAPO-34 and ZIF-8 particles in matrix and the influence of the fillers on the separation performance of the membrane had been investigated in this study. The as-synthesized MMMs showed a better trade-off between permeability and selectivity than the pure polymer membrane and the performance could exceed or close to the upper bound line of polymer membrane for CO₂ and CH4 separation. The CO₂ permeability and CO₂/CH₄ ideal selectivity of the 6FDA-mDAT MMM containing 40 wt% SAPO-34 zeolite was 190 barrer and ca. 60, respectively. The 6FDA-TrMPD based MMMs containing 20 wt% ZIF-8 provided a permeability of C₃H₆ and an ideal selectivity of C₃H₆/C₃H₈ at 24 barrer and ca. 17, respectively. These separation performances were in a suitable agreement of the theoretical value from Maxwell model.