ABS copolymer-activited carbon mixed matrix membranes for CO2/CH4 separation

M. ANSON; J. MARCHESE; E. GARIS; N. A. OCHOA; C. PAGLIERO

JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2004 vol. 243 p. 19 - 28

0376-7388

The performance of various novel mixed matrix composite (MMC) membranes for separation of CO2 from CH4 was investigated as a function of carbon loading. Acrylonitrile?butadiene?styrene (ABS) copolymer was used as the polymer matrix and two micro-mesoporous activated carbons (AC) were chosen as inorganic fillers. A thorough analysis of the effect of temperature and pressure on the permeation rates of CO2 and CH4 and selective properties of the ABS-AC composite membranes was done. Measurements were made for each system at four different temperatures in the range 20?50 °C, and in the feed pressure range from 2 to 8 × 105 Pa. The ABS-AC membranes showed a simultaneous increase of CO2 gas permeabilities (40?600%) and CO2/CH4 selectivities (40?100%) over the intrinsic ABS permselectivity by increasing the percentage of carbon loaded in the mixed matrix composite membrane.