Polysulfone Membranes Incorporated with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Olefin/Paraffin Separation

Abstract

The membrane technology has received considerable attention for olefin/paraffin separation in recent years, owing to its attractive energy efficiency. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is prepared via hydrothermal treatment of graphene oxide. The prepared rGO is characterized and then incorporated into polysulfone (PSF) to fabricate mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs). The fabricated membranes are characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction. The gas transport properties of the MMMs are evaluated for ethylene/ethane and propylene/propane gas pairs at 2 bar and 30∘C . Permeation tests indicate that the PSF membrane embedded with 1.0 wt% of the rGO nanosheets has 143% and 193% higher C2H4 and C3H6 permeabilities, respectively, its C3H6/C3H8 selectivity is 18% higher, but its C2H4/C2H6 selectivity is 23% lower, compared to those of the pristine PSF membrane. The gas permeability enhancement is attributed to improved gas diffusion and solubility coefficients. These results indicate the potential of rGO nanosheets for the enhancement of olefin permeabilities without significant drops in olefin/paraffin selectivities.

Incorporation of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide on the performance of hybrid polysulfone membranes for gas permeation

“…In the region from 1,480 cm -1 to 1,590 cm -1 , aromatic C=C stretching vibrations occurred, represented at approximately 1,580 cm -1 [23,24]. The group that corresponded to aromatic ether (COC) was observed at 1,234 cm -1 and the band referring to the hydroxyl group was observed close to 1,485 cm -1 , and both bands are related to the presence of phenol groups [23,25].…”

Membranas de matriz mista Polisulfona/GRAFENO para remoção de contaminante emergente

“…Exibem as vibrações aromáticas C=C da PSU na região de 1480-1590 cm -1 , representados em 1579 e 1582cm -1 , respectivamente (Indherjith et al, 2019;Ionita et al, 2014). Além disso, os picos característicos de C-O-C, OH e C=O são observado em 1234, 1485 e 1691cm -1 respectivamente, estão relacionados ao alongamento do anel de benzeno (Indherjith et al, 2019;Najafi et al, 2020).…”

“…Nenhuma mudança significativa nas vibrações assimétricas e simétricas de O=S=O, (bandas características da PSU na região de 1290 cm -1 e 1100 cm -1 ) foi observada para as membranas compósitas sintetizadas, sendo que, os picos estão representados em aproximadamente em 1295 e 1150cm -1 (Ionita et al, 2014;Najafi et al, 2020). A vibração de alongamento -OH para PSU/rGO é observada em uma banda larga de 3000-3700cm -1 , enquanto o PSU/GO mostra vibração de alongamento -OH diminuída ou completamente extinta, comportamento análogo foi obtido por Ionita et al, 2014, Indherjith et al, 2019Najafi et al, 2020. Além disso, fraco entre 2900-3100 cm -1 corresponde a vibrações de alongamento C-H alifático (Ganesh, Isloor e Ismail, 2013;Ionita et al, 2014).…”

“…Os difratogramas de raios-X das cargas e membranas compósitas são mostrados na Figura 5.6, com as atribuições estabelecidas. O espectro de DRX da PSU mostra um pico de difração fraco localizado em 2θ de 17,26°, indicando uma estrutura quase amorfa (Ionita et al, 2014;Najafi et al, 2020).…”

Molecular Dynamics Insights into the Structural and Water Transport Properties of a Forward Osmosis Polyamide Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane Modified with Graphene Quantum Dots

“…Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have appealing characteristics for membrane functionalization, such as large surface area and tunable surface grafting thanks to the presence of surface functional groups. − Specifically, the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups on the surface of GQDs improves their compatibility with various polymeric, organic/inorganic, and biological species. − Because of the presence of oxygen-containing moieties, the incorporation of GQDs into the PA matrix alters its physicochemical structure and thus its water transport mechanisms. To develop nanocomposite PA membranes with suitable performance, better understandings of the microscopic structure of the membranes and of the interactions between PA chains and nanomaterials are needed .…”