Nano composite PEBAX®/PEG membranes: Effect of MWNT filler on CO2/CH4 separation

Abstract

The performances of two-phase polymer-liquid PEBAX^®/polyethylene glycol (PEG) and three-phase polymer-liquid-solid PEBAX^®/PEG/MWNT thin film composite membranes for CO₂ and CH₄ permeation were studied. The effect of temperature and MWNT/PEBAX^® ratio on single gas (CO₂ and CH₄) permeability was investigated. The permeation of both gases was measured at different temperatures from 303 to 323 ˚K. The results exhibited that the PEBAX^®/PEG/MWNT membrane had better permeability for CO₂ in comparison to the PEBAX^®/PEG membrane, whereas CO₂/CH₄ selectivities in both membranes were almost the same; i.e. MWNT filler promoted the performance of PEBAX^®/PEG membrane in CO₂/CH₄ Separation. Also, the permeability increases with temperature in all experiments. For the three-phase PEBAX^®/PEG/MWNT membrane, CO₂ permeability was determined 221 Barrer in 323˚K and the selectivity was obtained as 23 in 303 ˚K.