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Omid Ghaffari Nik , Xiao Yuan Chen, Serge Kaliaguine
Journal of Membrane Science, April 2012
Abstract
This work describes the preparation, characterization and CO2/CH4 gas separation properties of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) made from five different as-synthesised metal organic frameworks (MOFs): UiO-66 (Zr-BDC), NH2-UiO-66 (Zr-ABDC), UiO-67 (Zr-BPDC), MOF-199 (Cu-BTC), and NH2-MOF-199 (containing 25% ABDC and 75% BTC mixed-linker) fillers and as-synthesized 6FDA–ODA polyimide as the polymeric matrix in order to investigate the ligand functionalization effect (–NH2) on MOF’s adsorption properties and on the CO2/CH4 gas separation performance of the MMMs.
The as-synthesized MOFs were carefully characterized by XRD, SEM, ATR-FTIR, and N2 adsorption at 77 K. MMMs were also characterized using ATR-FTIR, and SEM and CO2/CH4 pure and mixed gas separation measurements were carried out. Incorporation of the fillers in the MMMs resulted in an increase in perm-selectivity except for the UiO-67 filler. The presence of amine-functional groups in as-synthesized MOFs increased both the ideal selectivity and CO2 permeability. On the other hand, MMM made with UiO-66 increased significantly the CO2 permeability compared to the neat 6FDA–ODA membrane without any loss in ideal selectivity. Using mixed-linker NH2-MOF-199 enhanced the perm-selectivity of the MMM maybe because of the presence of some whisker-like roughness on their crystal surface as observed in SEM.
Dr. Omid Ghaffari Nik received his PhD in chemical engineering from Laval University, Canada, in 2012. His research interests include synthesis and characterization and adsorptive properties of microporous and mesoporous materials (Zeolites, MOFs), Membrane preparation (polymeric, inorganic and mixed matrix membranes) and membrane separation technology (pervaporation and gas separation). He has authored 8 refereed journal publications and similar number of conferences. He is currently postdoctoral fellow at Queen’s University, Canada and works on CO2 capture using switchable solvents.
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