Nano composite PEBAX®/PEG membranes: Effect of MWNT filler on CO2/CH4 separation

The performances of two-phase polymer-liquid PEBAX®/polyethylene glycol (PEG) and three-phase polymer-liquid-solid PEBAX®/PEG/MWNT thin film composite membranes for CO2 and CH4 permeation were studied. The effect of temperature and MWNT/PEBAX® ratio on single gas (CO2 and CH4) permeability was investigated. The permeation of both gases was measured at different temperatures from 303 to 323 ˚K. The results exhibited that the PEBAX®/PEG/MWNT membrane had better permeability for CO2 in comparison to the PEBAX®/PEG membrane, whereas CO2/CH4 selectivities in both membranes were almost the same; i.e. MWNT filler promoted the performance of PEBAX®/PEG membrane in CO2/CH4 Separation. Also, the permeability increases with temperature in all experiments. For the three-phase PEBAX®/PEG/MWNT membrane, CO2 permeability was determined 221 Barrer in 323˚K and the selectivity was obtained as 23 in 303 ˚K.