Recent Advances in Polymer-Inorganic Mixed Matrix Membranes for CO2 Separation

Abstract

Since the second industrial revolution, the use of fossil fuels has been powering the advance of human society. However, the surge in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has raised unsettling concerns about global warming and its consequences. Membrane separation technologies have emerged as one of the major carbon reduction approaches because they are less energy-intensive and more environmentally friendly compared to other separation techniques. Compared to pure polymeric membranes, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) that encompass both a polymeric matrix and molecular sieving fillers have received tremendous attention, as they have the potential to combine the advantages of both polymers and molecular sieves, while cancelling out each other’s drawbacks. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in the development of MMMs for CO2 separation. We will discuss general mechanisms of CO2 separation in an MMM, and then compare the performances of MMMs that are based on zeolite, MOF, metal oxide nanoparticles and nanocarbons, with an emphasis on the materials’ preparation methods and their chemistries. As the field is advancing fast, we will particularly focus on examples from the last 5 years, in order to provide the most up-to-date overview in this area.

MOF/Polymer Mixed-Matrix Membranes Preparation: Effect of Main Synthesis Parameters on CO2/CH4 Separation Performance

“…In general, L-version membranes were found to be 1. 4 TGA was performed with Q500 thermogravimetric analyzer from TA instruments. Samples were heated in N 2 atmosphere from room temperature to 800 • C at a heating rate of 5 • C/min.…”

“…At the same time, they circumvent the brittleness and high costs associated with inorganic membranes and the mediocre gas separation performance of unfilled polymeric membranes [3]. Even though MMMs are currently still waiting for their commercial breakthrough, they have been widely studied in the past decades, leading to truly exceptional performances [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Especially for CO 2 /CH 4 separation, as applied in natural gas and biogas upgrading, MMMs have made up a significant portion of the membrane research field [11][12][13].…”

Carbon capture via novel Cu(II)‐DDA metal–organic frameworks‐based hybrid membranes

“…As compared to other conventional gas separation techniques like adsorption or distillation, carbon dioxide capture via MOF‐filled composite membranes is much more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly owing to their reduced manufacturing and operational costs 5,6 . Polymer‐based mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) combine excellent CO 2 separation characteristics of inorganic fillers with minimal cost and flexibility of organic polymers 7 …”

CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 Gas Separation Performance of CTA-TNT@CNT Hybrid Mixed Matrix Membranes

“…However, this strategy is limited to zeolites and other silicate fillers only. Similarly, functionalization of existing fillers is often carried out to improve their compatibility and dispersion properties in the polymer matrix, thereby creating defect-free interfacial morphology, reducing leaky interfacial voids and loss of selectivity [19,20]. However, this technique is laborious and could even disrupt the structure and lose the intrinsic properties of the native fillers [12].…”