Room temperature ionic liquid/ZIF-8 mixed-matrix membranes for natural gas sweetening and post-combustion CO2 capture

Advanced Porous Materials in Mixed Matrix Membranes

Membrane technology has gained great interest in industrial separation processing over the past few decades owing to its high energy efficiency, small capital investment, environmentally benign characteristics, and the continuous operation process. Among various types of membranes, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) combining the merits of the polymer matrix and inorganic/organic fillers have been extensively investigated. With the rapid development of chemistry and materials science, recent studies have shifted toward the design and application of advanced porous materials as promising fillers to boost the separation performance of MMMs. Here, first a comprehensive overview is provided on the choices of advanced porous materials recently adopted in MMMs, including metal-organic frameworks, porous organic frameworks, and porous molecular compounds. Novel trends in MMMs induced by these advanced porous fillers are discussed in detail, followed by a summary of applying these MMMs for gas and liquid separations. Finally, a concise conclusion and current challenges toward the industrial implementation of MMMs are outlined, hoping to provide guidance for the design of high-performance membranes to meet the urgent needs of clean energy and environmental sustainability.

Gelled Graphene Oxide-Ionic Liquid Composite Membranes with Enriched Ionic Liquid Surfaces for Improved CO2 Separation

Blends containing ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methyimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [emim][BF₄] gelled with Pebax 1657 block copolymers were modified by adding graphene oxide (GO) and fabricated in the form of thin film composite hollow fiber membranes. Their carbon dioxide (CO₂) separation performance was evaluated using CO₂ and N₂ gas permeation and low-pressure adsorption measurements, and the morphology of films was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Upon small addition of GO into the IL-dominated environment, the interaction between IL and GO facilitated the migration of IL to the surface while suppressing the interaction between IL and Pebax, which was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Amplified migration of IL to the surface and better dispersion of GO stacks were further achieved under alkaline conditions. With the enriched IL on the surface, the gas permeation through the films at 0.5 wt % GO and approximately 80 wt % IL loading reached 1000 GPU for CO₂ with their CO₂/N₂ selectivity (up to 44) approaching that of pure IL.

Functionalized ionic liquid membranes for CO2 separation

It is imperative to develop efficient, reversible and economic technologies for separating CO₂ which mainly comes from flue gas, natural gas and syngas.

Nanoparticles Embedded in Amphiphilic Membranes for Carbon Dioxide Separation and Dehumidification

Polymers containing ethylene oxide (EO) groups have gained significant interest as the EO groups have favorable interactions with polar molecules such as H₂ O, quadrupolar molecules such as CO₂ , and metal ions. However, the main challenges of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) membranes are their weak mechanical properties and high crystallinity nature. The amphiphilic copolymer made from PEO terephthalate and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) comprises both hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments. The hydrophilic PEOT segment is thermosensitive, which facilities gas transports whereas the hydrophobic PBT segment is rigid, which provides mechanical robustness. This work demonstrates a new strategy to design amphiphilic mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) by incorporating zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-71, into the PEOT/PBT copolymer. The resultant membrane shows an enhanced CO₂ permeability with an ideal CO₂ /N₂ selectivity surpassing the original PEOT/PBT and Robeson's Upper bound line. The nanoparticles-embedded amphiphilic membranes exhibit characteristics of high transparency and mechanical robustness. Mechanically strong composite hollow fiber membranes consisting of PEOT/PBT/ZIF-71 as the selective layer were also prepared. The resultant hollow fibers possess an excellent CO₂ permeance of 131 GPU (gas permeation units), CO₂ /N₂ selectivity of 52.6, H₂ O permeance of 9300 GPU and H₂ O/N₂ selectivity of 3700, showing great potential for industrial CO₂ capture and dehumidification.

Highly CO2 Selective Microporous Metal-Imidazolate Framework-Based Mixed Matrix Membranes

Microporous metal-imidazolate framework (MMIF), a highly CO₂ selective MOF, was incoporated into a polymeric membrane for separation of CO₂ from CH₄ and N₂ for the first time. MMIF nanoparticles of 50-200 nm were synthesized using the sonication method and dispersed into Matrimid, a commercial polyimide, with MOF loading of 10% and 20% by weight to fabricate mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Morphology, thermal behavior, and glass transition temperature of the membranes were characterized, and single and mixed gas permeation measurements at 35 °C and 4 bar feed pressure were carried out to reveal their separation performance. Both 10% and 20% MMIF containing Matrimid membranes exhibited enhanced gas permeabilities for all three gases. Contrary to expectations, ideal selectivity of membranes was not improved possibly due to the flexible framework of MMIF. On the other hand, mixed gas permeability measurements showed significant improvement in CO₂/CH₄ separation factor by 130% and CO₂/N₂ separation factor by 79% due to competitive adsorption favoring CO₂.

Effects of ZnO Nanoparticle on the Gas Separation Performance of Polyurethane Mixed Matrix Membrane

Polyurethane (PU)-ZnO mixed matrix membranes (MMM) were fabricated and characterized for gas separation. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) test and an atomic-force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the physical properties and thermal stability of the membranes were improved through filler loading. Hydrogen Bonding Index, obtained from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), demonstrate that the degree of phase separation in PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % MMM was more than the neat PU, while in PU-ZnO 1.0 wt % MMM, the phase mixing had increased. Compared to the neat membrane, the CO₂ permeability of the MMMs increased by 31% for PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % MMM and decreased by 34% for 1.0 wt % ZnO MMM. The CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂ selectivities of PU-ZnO 0.5 wt % were 18.75 and 64.75, respectively.

Ionic Liquid/Metal-Organic Framework Composites: From Synthesis to Applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied for different applications owing to their fascinating properties such as large surface areas, high porosities, tunable pore sizes, and acceptable thermal and chemical stabilities. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been recently incorporated into the pores of MOFs as cavity occupants to change the physicochemical properties and gas affinities of MOFs. Several recent studies have shown that IL/MOF composites show superior performances compared with pristine MOFs in various fields, such as gas storage, adsorption and membrane-based gas separation, catalysis, and ionic conductivity. In this review, we address the recent advances in syntheses of IL/MOF composites and provide a comprehensive overview of their applications. Opportunities and challenges of using IL/MOF composites in many applications are reviewed and the requirements for the utilization of these composite materials in real industrial processes are discussed to define the future directions in this field.

Interfacial Design of Ternary Mixed Matrix Membranes Containing Pebax 1657/Silver-Nanopowder/[BMIM][BF4] for Improved CO2 Separation Performance

In this research, Pebax1657 as an organic phase and silver nanoparticles as an inorganic phase were used for preparation of binary mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Silver nanoparticles as a filler could enter the polymer chains and enhance the gas permeability by increasing the fractional free volume of membranes. Afterward, ternary MMMs were fabricated by addition of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF₄]) ionic liquid, in order to have better polymer/filler adhesion and eliminate interfacial defects and nonselective voids. In addition, positively polarized silver nanoparticles in the presence of the IL could interact with PEO segment of the polymer and increase the CO₂ affinity of membranes, which results in increasing the CO₂/light gases permselectivity of MMMs. Gas permeation properties of MMMs were studied at a temperature of 35 °C and operating pressures from 2 to 10 bar. Moreover, fabricated membranes were characterized by fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The analysis revealed that there is a proper adhesion between positively charged surface of nanoparticles and the polymer, and both filler and IL decrease the crystallinity of the membranes, which could enhance the polar gas transport properties. Gas permeation results showed significant enhancement in CO₂ permeability (325 Barrer) for binary membrane (Pebax 1657/1%Ag) at 35 °C and 10 bar. Moreover, ternary MMM (Pebax 1657/0.5%Ag/50%IL) encountered significant increase in both permeability and selectivity in comparison with neat membrane. Indeed, the CO₂ permeability increased from 110 Barrer to 180 (about 64%). Moreover, the related CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂ selectivities were increased from 20.8 to 61.0 (more than 193%) and from 78.6 to 187.5 (about 139%), respectively.

Pebax-based composite membranes with high gas transport properties enhanced by ionic liquids for CO2 separation

A series of composite membranes with high gas transport properties enhanced by IL and ZIF-8 have been developed. The influence of ionic liquid and ZIF-8 addition on gas separation performance were systematically investigated.

Alginate Hydrogel: A Shapeable and Versatile Platform for in Situ Preparation of Metal-Organic Framework-Polymer Composites

This work reports a novel in situ growth approach for incorporating metal-organic framework (MOF) materials into an alginate substrate, which overcomes the challenges of processing MOF particles into specially shaped structures for real industrial applications. The MOF-alginate composites are prepared through the post-treatment of a metal ion cross-linked alginate hydrogel with a MOF ligand solution. MOF particles are well distributed and embedded in and on the surface of the composites. The macroscopic shape of the composite can be designed by controlling the shape of the corresponding hydrogel; thus MOF-alginate beads, fibers, and membranes are obtained. In addition, four different MOF-alginate composites, including HKUST-1-, ZIF-8-, MIL-100(Fe)-, and ZIF-67-alginate, were successfully prepared using different metal ion cross-linked alginate hydrogels. The mechanism of formation is revealed, and the composite is demonstrated to be an effective absorbent for water purification.

Hybrid Ionic Liquid-Chitosan Membranes for CO2 Separation: Mechanical and Thermal Behavior

Pure chitosan (CS) and hybrid ionic liquid-chitosan membranes loaded with 5 wt% 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim][Ac]) ionic liquid were prepared in order to improve the thermal behavior of supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) for CO2 separation. Gas permeability, solubility and diffusivity were evaluated in the temperature range 298–323 K. The temperature influence was well described in terms of the Arrhenius–van’t Hoff exponential relationships. Activation energies were calculated and compared with those obtained for SILMs with the same ionic liquid. The introduction of this ionic liquid in the hybrid solid membrane decreases the permeability activation energy, leading to a lower influence of the temperature in the permeability and diffusivity. Moreover, the thermal behavior is similar to pure chitosan membranes, and the mechanical strength and flexibility were improved due to the introduction of the ionic liquid in the polymer matrix.

Ionic liquid-based materials: a platform to design engineered CO2 separation membranes

This review provides a judicious assessment of the CO₂ separation efficiency of membranes using ionic liquid-based materials and highlights breakthroughs and key challenges in this field.

Ether-functionalized ionic liquid based composite membranes for carbon dioxide separation

The cellulose acetate and ether-functionalized pyridinium-based ionic liquid composite membranes has been designed to improve CO₂ separation performance.

Enhanced performance of mixed-matrix membranes through a graft copolymer-directed interface and interaction tuning approach

Herein, a high performance mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) is reported with simultaneously large improvements in the CO2 permeability by 880 % from 70.2 to 687.7 Barrer (1 Barrer=1×10(-10)  cm(3)  cm cm(-2)  s(-1)  cmHg(-1) ) and CO2 /N2 selectivity by 14.4 % from 30.5 to 34.9. These findings represent one of the most dramatic improvements ever reported for MMMs. These improvements are obtained through an interface and interaction tuning approach based on an amphiphilic grafted copolymer. Poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC-g-POEM) graft copolymer plays a key role as a soft organic matrix to provide good permeation properties, uniform distribution of zeolite imidazole frameworks-8 (ZIF-8), and better interfacial contact with inorganic compounds. In particular, the CO2 /C3 H8 and CO2 /C3 H6 selectivities reached 10.5 and 42.7, respectively, for PVC-g-POEM/ZIF (40 %) MMMs; this indicates that it could be a promising membrane material for the purification of C3 hydrocarbons.

Synthesis and characterisation of MOF/ionic liquid/chitosan mixed matrix membranes for CO2/N2 separation

The CO₂ permeability and CO₂/N₂ selectivity of IL–CS membranes is improved by adding nano-HKUST-1 and ZIF-8, and predicted accurately by Maxwell-derived model as a function of interfacial contact, crystallinity and pore blockage with temperature.

Ionic liquid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/zeolitic imidazolate framework hybrid membranes for efficient H2/CO2 separation

A ZIF-9 membrane covered by ionic liquid (IL) functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared with a high selectivity for H₂/CO₂.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks: next-generation materials for energy-efficient gas separations

Industrial separation processes comprise approximately 10% of the global energy demand, driven largely by the utilization of thermal separation methods (e.g., distillation). Significant energy and cost savings can be realized using advanced separation techniques such as membranes and sorbents. One of the major barriers to acceptance of these techniques remains creating materials that are efficient and productive in the presence of aggressive industrial feeds. One promising class of emerging materials is zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), an important thermally and chemically stable subclass of metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The objectives of this paper are (i) to provide a current understanding of the synthetic methods that enable the immense tunability of ZIFs, (ii) to identify areas of success and areas for improvement when ZIFs are used as adsorbents, (iii) to identify areas of success and areas for improvement in ZIF membranes. A review is given of the state-of-the-art in ZIF synthesis procedures and novel ZIF formation pathways as well as their application in energy efficient separations.