UiO‐66‐NH2 particle size effects on gas separation performance of cellulose acetate composite membranes

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 139; no. 33
• Main Authors: Hu, Zhirong, Miu, Jiayu, Zhang, Xiong‐Fei, Jia, Mingmin, Yao, Jianfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 05.09.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Carbon dioxide; Cellulose acetate; Gas separation; Interfacial properties; Materials science; Membranes; Metal-organic frameworks; Optimization; Particle size; Polymers; polysaccharides; porous materials; separation techniques; Size effects; Zirconium
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.52810

UiO‐66‐NH2 (Zr‐based metal organic framework) is integrated into cellulose acetate (CA) to fabricate mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) through solvent‐casting approach. To regulate the interfacial compatibility and suppress the non‐selective voids, UiO‐66‐NH2 with different particle sizes are investigated. The introduction of UiO‐66‐NH2 provides additional pathways for gas molecules and renders the membrane with high CO2 affinity, substantially augmenting the separation efficiency of UiO‐66‐NH2@CA composite membrane. By optimizing the particle size of UiO‐66‐NH2, the non‐selective voids and the particle agglomeration can be effectively restricted. The optimum separation performance is obtained by U‐100@CA membrane (UiO‐66‐NH2: 200 nm in size), exhibiting a CO2 permeability of 168.8 Barrer with CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 ideal selectivities of 40.2 and 51.3, respectively. The separation mechanism is ascribed to the presence of sufficient amine groups, the high CO2 solubility of CA matrix, and superior inorganic–organic interfacial property.