Volume 140, Issue 6 e53453
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of poly(ether block amide)-graphene/ZnO membranes in mixed gas separation performance

Esmeralda Mendoza-Mendoza

Esmeralda Mendoza-Mendoza

CONACYT - Centro de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina (CICSAB), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Contribution: ​Investigation (equal)

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Beatriz Liliana España-Sánchez

Beatriz Liliana España-Sánchez

Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica CIDETEQ S. C., Parque Tecnológico Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico

Contribution: ​Investigation (equal)

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Angel de Jesús Montes-Luna

Corresponding Author

Angel de Jesús Montes-Luna

Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A. C. (CICY), Laboratorio de Membranas, Unidad de Materiales, Mérida, Mexico

Correspondence

Angel de Jesús Montes-Luna, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A. C. (CICY), Laboratorio de Membranas, Unidad de Materiales, No. 130 Chuburná de Hidalgo, C.P. 97205, Mérida, Yucatán, México.

Email: [email protected]

Griselda Castruita-de León, CONACYT - Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Blvd. Enrique Reyna, Hermosillo # 140, Col. San José de los Cerritos, C.P. 25294, Saltillo, Coahuila, México.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: ​Investigation (equal)

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Griselda Castruita-de León

Corresponding Author

Griselda Castruita-de León

CONACYT - Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Saltillo, Mexico

Correspondence

Angel de Jesús Montes-Luna, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A. C. (CICY), Laboratorio de Membranas, Unidad de Materiales, No. 130 Chuburná de Hidalgo, C.P. 97205, Mérida, Yucatán, México.

Email: [email protected]

Griselda Castruita-de León, CONACYT - Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Blvd. Enrique Reyna, Hermosillo # 140, Col. San José de los Cerritos, C.P. 25294, Saltillo, Coahuila, México.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: ​Investigation (equal)

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First published: 28 November 2022

Funding information: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT), Mexico, Grant/Award Numbers: 315878, CB-2016-285350; The State Council for Science and Technology of Coahuila, Grant/Award Number: COAH-2021-C15-032

Abstract

In this work, graphene/zinc oxide nanoparticles (G/ZnO NPs) were synthesized by a metathesis-assisted molten salt route. The methodology followed has outstanding features such as innovative, environmentally friendly, high-yield, efficient, and straightforward. In addition, poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA)-based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) filled with different amounts of G/ZnO NPs (up to 2%) were successfully prepared. Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction were performed to determine the thermal and structural properties of the pristine and MMMs. Scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive spectroscopy were used for morphological studies and for identifying the as-prepared G/ZnO NPs. Incorporating G/ZnO NPs (PEBA-G/ZnO 2% 476 Barrer) provided benefits to the permeability properties and showed an increase of 37% concerning the polymeric membrane (318.06 Barrer). The gas separation performance improved by increasing the amount of G/ZnO NPs. A synergistic effect between PEBA properties and G/ZnO NPs led to enhanced CO2 selectivity for ternary mixed gas separation (CO2/CH4/N2). Selectivity of the MMMs S CO 2 / CH 4 = 19 showed an increase of 34% higher than to pristine (PEBA) membrane S CO 2 / CH 4 = 14 , favoring the permeation of CO2. G/ZnO NPs can be potentially helpful in membranes applied in the CO2 mixed gas separation.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Research data are not shared.

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