(3-Aminopropyl) Triethoxysilane-Modified ZIF-90 Nanoparticle/Polydimethylsiloxane Mixed Matrix Membranes for Ethanol Recovery via Pervaporation

• Published in: ACS applied nano materials Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 183 - 194
• Main Authors: Han, Zhentong, Zhao, Yaxin, Jiang, Haoji, Sheng, Ao, Li, Hao, Jia, Hao, Yun, Zhiyuan, Wei, Zhong, Wang, Heyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 28.01.2022
• Subjects: interfacial interaction; ethanol recovery; APTES-ZIF-90; mixed matrix membranes; pervaporation
• ISSN: 2574-0970; 2574-0970
• DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.1c02523

The present study eliminated nonselective defects by amending the MOF-based mixed matrix membrane (MMM) interface with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) via Schiff’s base reaction. This modification on the ZIF-90 nanoparticle surfaces enhanced the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix interaction in the MMMs. Interfacial defects were then minimized through APTES-ZIF-90 nanoparticle surface alkoxy and PDMS chain hydroxyl group cross-linking. Enhanced chemical interactions between the nanoparticles and the polymeric matrix in the APTES-ZIF-90/PDMS MMMs resulted in higher interface compatibility and separation performance than the ZIF-90 nanoparticle MMMs, which ultimately improved its ethanol affinity and hydrophobicity. When the load of APTES-ZIF-90 nanoparticles was 15% and the temperature was 40 °C, the pervaporation performance of APTES-ZIF-90/PDMS MMMs was optimal, the separation factor was 16.8, and the permeation flux was 223 g/(m2·h). Compared with pure PDMS, the separation factor and permeation flux increased by 91 and 67%, respectively. In addition, stable APTES-ZIF-90/PDMS MMM pervaporation performance was observed after an optimal operation time of 120 h. Overall, the present work presented methods to optimize MOF-based MMMs for enhanced interface morphology and separation performance for ethanol recovery.