Elevated Pervaporative Desulfurization Performance of Pebax-Ag⁺@MOFs Hybrid Membranes by Integrating Multiple Transport Mechanisms

Abstract

Polymeric dense membranes for separating molecules with similar properties in liquid mixture according to solution-diffusion mechanisms are often constrained by trade-off effects. Integrating a facilitated transport mechanism and a sieving mechanism into membranes is a preferred approach to address this issue. Herein, amine-functionalized titanium-based metal–organic frameworks (NH2-MIL-125­(Ti)) immobilized with Ag+, Ag+@NH2-MIL-125­(Ti), was synthesized and hybrid membranes were fabricated for pervaporative desulfurization. The immobilized Ag+ can form reversible π-complexation toward thiophene and achieve thiophene-selectivity transport via a facilitated transport mechanism; meanwhile, Ag+ can decrease the effective pore size of the MOFs to elevate the diffusion selectivity of thiophene via a sieving mechanism. Accordingly, the resulting Pebax membranes with 1.0 wt % Ag+@NH2-MIL-125­(Ti) exhibit a permeation flux of 22.11 kg/(m2 h) and an enrichment factor of 5.92. Furthermore, the hybrid membranes display increased thermostability and antiswelling properties by the incorporation of Ag+@NH2-MIL-125­(Ti). This study proposes a strategy for the rational design of MOFs as nanofillers and endow the membranes with superior separation performance by integrating multiple transport mechanisms.

PEG@ZIF-8/PVDF Nanocomposite Membrane for Efficient Pervaporation Desulfurization via a Layer-by-Layer Technology

“…The comparison of the desulfurization of the as-prepared membrane in this study with recent studies ,,,− is shown in Figure . It can be seen that the enrichment factor of the membrane in this study is higher than that of other membranes reported previously, whereas the permeation flux of the membrane is lowest.…”

Metal−Organic Frameworks for Liquid Phase Applications

“…This study recommends the integration of multiple transport mechanisms by using MOFs as nanofillers to achieve superior separation performance. [60] The depletion of fossil fuels has sparked enormous interest to develop alternative energy resources such as renewable biofuels. Compared with conventional fuels, biofuels are environmentally benign and carbon neutral with less emission of gaseous pollutants.…”

Adsorption of Dibenzothiophene in Gasoline by Si-MCM-41/Sodium Alginate Porous Hybrid Membrane

“…HDS is a nonselective hydrogenation process that requires high temperature and high pressure. The process also requires substantial quantities of H2, which is expensive [6][7][8]. Therefore, new catalysts or deep desulfurization method is required.…”