MIXED MATRIX MEMBRANE MADE OF METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORK AND POLYMER FOR CO2 SEPARATION APPLICATIONS

This study is aimed to fabricate Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs) from metal organic framework and polymer for CO2 separation from gas mixtures. High permeability and tunable selectivity of MOF together with mechanical stability and processibility of polymer will be utilized for the sake of MMMs fabrication with improved properties for gas separation applications with particular selectivity to CO2, with special focus on CO2: N2, and CO2: CH4 systems. Different MOF-polymeric composites will be prepared and cast as membranes using different techniques with various MOF loading percentages and different membrane thicknesses in order to achieve the optimal uniform distribution of MOF crystals among polymer backbone without affecting the membrane continuity to produce membrane with optimum permselectivity. Membrane efficiency and separation factor will be examined by time lag concept using constant volume/variable pressure method for the measurement of permeability and the time lag for every single gas. The permeability will be resolved into kinetic and thermodynamic components, according to solution diffusion mechanism. The ideal separation factor of the membrane will be calculated by the comparison of single gas permeability coefficients; while real separation factor will be calculated by measuring of preferential permeation of certain component from a gas mixture through the membrane at certain temperature and pressure, then, real selectivity can be calculated by the comparison of permeate and feed gas compositions. Membrane selectivity for CO2 will be tuned by MOF functionalization to modulate MOF: CO2 affinity. This research designed to develop MMM of high efficiency for gas separation application, particularly CO2. Selected membranes developed through this project will be examined and utilized in future work in the separation of CO2 from flue gasand other industrial application of CO2 capture such as natural gas upgrading