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Polysulfone Membranes Incorporated with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Olefin/Paraffin Separation
Author(s) -
Najafi Mohadeseh,
Sadeghi Morteza,
Shamsabadi Ahmad A.,
Dinari Mohammad,
Soroush Masoud
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.202000240
Subject(s) - polysulfone , membrane , gas separation , olefin fiber , permeation , graphene , materials science , chemical engineering , selectivity , propane , oxide , ethylene oxide , solubility , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , hildebrand solubility parameter , nanoparticle , organic chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , copolymer , polymer , composite material , biochemistry , catalysis , engineering , metallurgy
The membrane technology has received considerable attention for olefin/paraffin separation in recent years, owing to its attractive energy efficiency. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is prepared via hydrothermal treatment of graphene oxide. The prepared rGO is characterized and then incorporated into polysulfone (PSF) to fabricate mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs). The fabricated membranes are characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction . The gas transport properties of the MMMs are evaluated for ethylene/ethane and propylene/propane gas pairs at 2 bar and 30∘ C . Permeation tests indicate that the PSF membrane embedded with 1.0 wt% of the rGO nanosheets has 143% and 193% higher C 2 H 4 and C 3 H 6 permeabilities, respectively, its C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 selectivity is 18% higher, but its C 2 H 4 /C 2 H 6 selectivity is 23% lower, compared to those of the pristine PSF membrane. The gas permeability enhancement is attributed to improved gas diffusion and solubility coefficients. These results indicate the potential of rGO nanosheets for the enhancement of olefin permeabilities without significant drops in olefin/paraffin selectivities.