CO₂ from waste to resource by developing novel mixed matrix membranes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are crucial for gas separation.
• Ordered mesoporous silica materials offer unique properties for membrane enhancement.
• Polyimide (P84) is a common polymer matrix for MMMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize MMMs using KIT-6 silica and polyimide (P84).
• To investigate the effect of KIT-6 on CO2 permeability and selectivity.
• To compare KIT-6 based MMMs with those using MCM-41.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis of ordered mesoporous KIT-6 silica.
• Fabrication of MMMs by incorporating KIT-6 into a polyimide matrix.
• Characterization using SEM, BET analysis, and gas permeation tests.

Main Results:

• Homogenous dispersion and good adhesion of KIT-6 in the polyimide matrix were observed.
• CO2 permeability increased significantly with KIT-6 loading, reaching 3.2 times higher at 30% loading.
• KIT-6 based MMMs exhibited 14% higher CO2 permeability compared to MCM-41 based MMMs.
• Selectivity showed a slight decrease with increasing filler content.

Conclusions:

• Mesoporous KIT-6 silica effectively enhances CO2 permeability in MMMs.
• KIT-6 is a promising additive for improving gas separation performance.
• The synthesized MMMs demonstrate potential for commercial gas separation applications.