Optimization of Using Polymeric and Mixed Matrix PVA Amine-based Membranes for CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 Separation

Abstract

Separation of CO2, the main global warming causing greenhouse gas, from other flue gases and from biogas has become of great interest due to the predicted effects of global warming that the world is already starting to experience. This research focuses on the separation of CO2 from CH4 and N2 gases using polymeric and mixed matrix membranes. Amine-based poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) polymeric membranes that had previously shown good gas separation results were adapted for use in this research. The physical aging of the adapted membrane was initially analyzed for 37 days and it was observed that the membrane stabilized after 21 days. The adapted membrane was then optimized using a 26 factorial design to improve the membranes’ performance with respect to CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity when tested using single gas permeation experiments at near atmospheric conditions. This was done with the membrane components: PVA, formaldehyde, poly (allylamine hydroxide), potassium hydroxide, water and 2-aminoisobutyric acid. Zeolite 13X and ZIF-8 powdered adsorbents were incorporated in the optimized membranes to prepare mixed-matrix membranes with the goal of bettering the separation performance of the membranes. Membrane characterization was done on the best performing membranes through spectroscopy, microscopy, and contact angle measurements. This study concluded with feed pressure tests on the overall best performing membranes. The performance of the fabricated membranes was compared to other polymeric and mixed-matrix membranes and Robeson’s upper bound line. Overall, the polymeric optimized membranes seemed to perform better than the filled mixed matrix membranes due to the introduction of agglomerations and cracks with both the filler materials. Also, the separation performance of the membrane improved with a decrease in pressure. At 1.5 absolute pressure, the optimized membrane was able to achieve a CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity of 5.94 and 2.13 respectively with a CO2 permeability of 15,813 Barrer.