Ameliorating carbon capture efficiency of polysulfone membranes via collegial incorporation of zeolite imidazole frameworks and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

AbstractContinuously exacerbating situation of global warming can be effectively mitigated by controlling carbon emissions from combustion processes through economically attractive membrane technology. Carbon capture efficiency of prospective membranes can be significantly improved via synergistically incorporating CO2‐selective ZIF‐300 nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polysulfone (PSF) matrix. Solution‐casting coupled with phase‐inversion processes were employed to concoct hybrid membranes containing varying loadings of both nanofillers. Manufactured composite membranes showed improved matrix structure, uniform nanofillers scattering, enhanced thermal resistance, and ameliorated nanofillers‐polysulfone interfacial adhesion as evidenced by morphological and thermal analysis. Both sorption and permeation measurements for CO2 and N2 gases performed on created membranes indicated upgraded CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 permselectivity on account of collegial impact of added nanofillers. In contrast to pristine polysulfone membrane rendering CO2 intake of 4.1 and CO2/N2 sorption selectivity of 12, hybrid membrane containing 15% ZIF‐300 and 3% CNTs uplifted corresponding values to 12 and 22, respectively. As compared to unadulterated polysulfone membrane, CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 permselectivity of hybrid membrane doped with optimized nanofillers loading of were, respectively, elevated by five‐ and three‐folds. Unique features of manufactured membranes can best be manifested in terms of their ability to maintain gas separation performance from post‐combustion effluents.