Air enrichment by mixed matrix membranes using microporous titanosilicates, ordered mesoporous silica and MOFs

C. CASADO; S. CASTARLENAS; M.T. JIMARÉ; B. SEOANE; B. ZORNOZA; J. M. ZAMARO; C. TÉLLEZ; J. CORONAS

Amsterdam

Congreso; International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes ICOM 2011; 2011

Membrane Technology Group of the University of Twente

The enrichment of air in O2 and N2 has many potential applications in many different fields (combustion, medicine, chemical synthesis). Polymer membranes are an economic and easy processing alternative to pure inorganic membranes. Although polymers are being developed to meet these demanding needs, their selectivity and permeability are still very low for a large-scale application. Mixed matrix membranes [1] consist in the introduction of a inorganic filler of special properties in a polymer matrix, with the aim of obtaining a synergy of the properties of both: the easy processability of polymers and the molecular sieving effects of the filler.2 and N2 has many potential applications in many different fields (combustion, medicine, chemical synthesis). Polymer membranes are an economic and easy processing alternative to pure inorganic membranes. Although polymers are being developed to meet these demanding needs, their selectivity and permeability are still very low for a large-scale application. Mixed matrix membranes [1] consist in the introduction of a inorganic filler of special properties in a polymer matrix, with the aim of obtaining a synergy of the properties of both: the easy processability of polymers and the molecular sieving effects of the filler. In our laboratory, different kinds of fillers and polymers are being investigated to improve Robeson´s upperbound [2]. These fillers range from microporous titanosilicates of tunable particle size and porosity [3] and ordered mesoporous silica spherical particles [4] to the versatile and newly developed MOFs [5] in order to improve adhesion between the inorganic fillers and the polymer chains, a critical problem in the glassy polymers currently used for O2/N2 separation. The membranes are prepared by solution casting of the polymer solutions with inorganic loadings between 0 and 20 wt%, and characterized by XRD, TGA, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, and gas separation of equimolar O2/N2 gas mixtures at different temperatures and pressures up to 3 bar.2/N2 separation. The membranes are prepared by solution casting of the polymer solutions with inorganic loadings between 0 and 20 wt%, and characterized by XRD, TGA, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, and gas separation of equimolar O2/N2 gas mixtures at different temperatures and pressures up to 3 bar.