ZSM5 zeolite-filled PVDF mixed matrix
membranes (MMMs) were wet
spun and used for CO2 absorption in a contactor system.
The properties of ZSM5 were analytically characterized. SEM images
revealed the fully asymmetric structure of membranes, in which the
creation of finger-like macrovoids was promoted with increasing filler
loading. A significant increase in gas permeance was observed, which
was associated with the porosity increase of the membrane surface
despite the decrease in surface pore size. The surface roughness,
wettability resistance, and mechanical stability of membranes were
also considerably improved by filler loading. A CO2 absorption
test with water revealed a higher CO2 flux of MMMs than
that of the plain membrane. Peak absorption flux of 5.80 × 10–3 mol m–2 s–1 was
achieved at a liquid velocity of 1.2 m s–1 for 5
wt % ZSM5/PVDF membrane (MZ5), which was nearly 177% higher than that
of neat PVDF and also surpassed that of several commercial and in-house
made membranes. The mass transfer resistance of the MMMs was also
considerably lower than that of PVDF.