Composite phenolic resin-based carbon molecular sieve membranes for gas separation

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 49; no. 13; pp. 4348 - 4358
• Main Authors: Teixeira, Miguel, Campo, Marta C., Pacheco Tanaka, David A., Llosa Tanco, Margot A., Magen, César, Mendes, Adélio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Carbon; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Membranes; Molecular sieves; Nanowires; Networks; Olefins; Phenolic resins; Physics; Porous materials; Scanning electron microscopy; Specific materials; Surface physical chemistry; Separation; Micropore; Porous materials; XRD; Phenolic resin; Supports; Aluminium oxide; Polymeric membrane; Scanning electron microscopy; Pyrolysis; Purification; Permeation; Thermogravimetry; Binary compounds; Carbon; High-resolution methods; Mercury porosimetry; Microporosity; Composite materials; Transmission electron microscopy; Olefin; Adsorption; Pore; Isotherms; Alumina; Ethylenic compound; Inorganic membrane; Drying
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2011.06.012

Composite carbon molecular sieve membranes (c-CMSM) were prepared from phenolic resin loaded with boehmite by a single dipping–drying–pyrolysis step. The composite membrane was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, mercury porosimetry, CO 2 adsorption and permeation experiments. It was produced a 2 μm thick composite uniform layer on top of a α-Al 2O 3 support. The composite top layer exhibited nanowires of Al 2O 3 1–2 nm thick and 10–30 nm long well dispersed in a microporous carbon matrix. The micropores network accounted for 63% of the total pore volume (DR isotherm). The c-CMSM exhibited ideal O 2/N 2 and C 3H 6/C 3H 8 permselectivities of 5 and 15, respectively. The performance of the c-CMSM for pair C 3H 6/C 3H 8 was above the upper bound curve for polymeric membranes, making it a promising vehicle for olefin purification.