The possibility of application of zeolyte powders for the construction of membranes for carbon dioxide separation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to construct a polymer-based mixed matrix membrane that could be used for waste gases treatment. Therefore, high permeability for the carbon dioxide and low permeability for other gases commonly present in the industrial combustion waste gases (nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and methane) are essential. These membranes belong to the group of dense composite membranes, whose separation is based on the solutiondiffusion mechanism. In this paper, feasibility of the application of poly(ethylene oxide)-copoly(phtalamide) was tested. In order to enhance the permeability of carbon dioxide, three different zeolites with two-dimensional pores (IHW, NS/ and TER) were incorporated, and in order to improve compatibility between the inorganic particles and polymer chains, n-tetradecyldimethylamonium bromide (NTAB) was added. The best results in carbon dioxide/hydrogen selectivity were obtained with the membrane constructed with PEBAX 1657 and surface treated zeolites, while better results concerning selectivity were gained with membranes based on Polyactive.