Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/poly(vinyl acetate)/nanosilica mixed matrix membrane for He/CH 4 separation

In the present work, the separation of He/CH 4 through different polymeric membranes has been considered. In this regard, composite flat sheet membranes are prepared from blending acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) with different amounts of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) (0–40 wt%). Gas permeability/selectivity analyses as well as the pressure effects were studied for the prepared membranes. The results demonstrated that the ABS/PVAc (20 wt%) membrane revealed higher permselectivity. Afterwards, novel mixed matrix membranes were prepared by incorporating 1–5 wt% SiO 2 nanoparticles into the ABS/PVAc (20 wt%). Additionally, further modification was carried out with the addition of styrene–butadiene–rubber (SBR) (5–15 wt%). The primary results of the prepared mixed matrix membranes showed a significant increase in the He permeability together with a decrease in He/CH 4 selectivity by incorporating the SiO 2 nanoparticles into the blend membranes. Finally, with the introduction of SBR, the (He permeability) selectivity was enhanced from (6.30 Barrer) 45 for the neat ABS/PVAc (20 wt%) to (42.39 Barrer) 51.88 for the ABS/PVAc (20 wt%)/SiO 2 (3 wt%)/SBR (15 wt%) membrane. © 2014 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.