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Effect of low‐frequency oxygen plasma on polysulfone membranes for CO 2 /CH 4 Separation
Author(s) -
Modarresi Siamak,
Soltanieh Mohammad,
Mousavi Seyyed Abbas,
Shabani Iman
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.35623
Subject(s) - polysulfone , membrane , contact angle , permeation , wetting , analytical chemistry (journal) , attenuated total reflection , scanning electron microscope , materials science , gas separation , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemical engineering , oxygen , chemistry , chromatography , composite material , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Low‐frequency O 2 plasma was used to modify the surface of polysulfone gas‐separation membranes. The effects of the treatment time and plasma power input on the membranes were also investigated. Pure CO 2 and CH 4 gas‐permeation measurements were performed before and after plasma treatment. The results show the increase of permeability of the treated membranes due to surface ablation and surface polarization up to 5.63 and 68.80 gas‐permeation units for CH 4 and CO 2 , respectively, whereas, the CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of the treated membranes varied from 7.7 to 45.3, depending on the treatment conditions. Attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy determined the introduction of oxygen‐containing polar groups on the surface of the membranes following treatment. Water contact angle measurements also showed a significant increase in the wettability of the membranes after plasma treatment. Furthermore, the morphology of the surface of the membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The images displayed a gradual smoothness of the surface under mild treatment conditions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012