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Multivariate Polycrystalline Metal-Organic Framework Membranes for CO2/CH4 Separation.
Weidong Fan1, Yunpan Ying1, Shing Bo Peh1
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585 Singapore.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|October 5, 2021
Summary
This study introduces advanced MIL-160 membranes for natural gas separation, offering improved selectivity and permeance for CO2/CH4. These novel membranes demonstrate enhanced resistance to moisture and hydrocarbons compared to traditional silicoaluminophosphate-34 membranes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Separation Technology
Background:
- Membrane technology offers energy-efficient natural gas separation.
- Microporous inorganic membranes like silicoaluminophosphate-34 (SAPO-34) show promise but suffer from moisture and hydrocarbon adsorption.
- Developing robust membranes resistant to contaminants is crucial for industrial natural gas processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize a novel MIL-160 membrane for natural gas separation.
- To investigate the effect of pore size and ligand functionality on membrane performance using reticular chemistry.
- To evaluate the performance of fluorine-functionalized MIL-160/CAU-10-F membranes and compare them with existing SAPO-34 membranes.
Main Methods:
- In situ hydrothermal synthesis of polycrystalline MIL-160 membranes on an Al2O3 substrate.
- Fabrication of fluorine-functionalized MIL-160/CAU-10-F membranes.
- Gas separation performance testing, including CO2/CH4 selectivity and CO2 permeance measurements.
- Evaluation of membrane resistance to water vapor and hydrocarbons.
Main Results:
- A 3 μm thick MIL-160 membrane exhibiting a significant molecular sieving effect was successfully fabricated.
- Reticular chemistry allowed precise control over the MIL-160 membrane's pore size and environment.
- The fluorine-functionalized MIL-160/CAU-10-F membrane showed a 10.7% increase in CO2/CH4 selectivity and a 31.2% increase in CO2 permeance compared to MIL-160.
- Both MIL-160 and MIL-160/CAU-10-F membranes demonstrated superior resistance to water vapor and hydrocarbons over SAPO-34 membranes.
Conclusions:
- MIL-160 membranes are effective for natural gas separation with tunable properties via reticular chemistry.
- Fluorine-functionalization enhances CO2/CH4 separation performance and CO2 permeance.
- These novel hydrophobic membranes offer improved stability and performance in the presence of contaminants, outperforming hydrophilic SAPO-34 membranes.
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