Open AccessCO2-Philic [EMIM][Tf2N] Modified Silica in Mixed Matrix Membrane for High Performance CO2/CH4 Separation
Author(s) -
Siti Nur Alwani Shafie,
Wen Xuan Liew,
Nik Abdul Hadi Md Nordin,
Muhammad Roil Bilad,
Norazlianie Sazali,
Zulfan Adi Putra,
Mohd Dzul Hakim Wirzal
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advances in polymer technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.523
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1098-2329
pISSN - 0730-6679
DOI - 10.1155/2019/2924961
Subject(s) - materials science , membrane , selectivity , gas separation , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , permeance , chemical engineering , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , ionic liquid , polymer , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , organic chemistry , catalysis , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Separation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from methane (CH 4 ) using polymeric membranes is limited by trade-off between permeability and selectivity as depicted in Robeson curve. To overcome this challenge, this study develops membranes by incorporating silica particles (Si) modified with [EMIM][Tf 2 N] ionic liquid (IL) at different IL:Si ratio to achieve desirable membrane properties and gas separation performance. Results show that the IL:Si particle has been successfully prepared, indicated by the presence of fluorine and nitrogen elements, as observed via Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS). Incorporation of the modified particles into membrane has given prominent effects on morphology and polymer chain flexibility. The mixed matrix membrane (MMM) cross-section morphology turns rougher in the presence of IL:Si during fracture due to higher loadings of silica particles and IL. Furthermore, the MMM becomes more flexible with IL presence due to IL-induced plasticization, independent of IL:Si ratio. The MMM with low IL content possesses CO 2 permeance of 34.60 ± 0.26 GPU with CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 85.10, which is far superior to a pure polycarbonate (PC) and PC-Sil membranes at 2 bar, which surpasses the Robeson Upper Bound. This higher CO 2 selectivity is due to the presences of CO 2 -philic IL within the MMM system.