(27g) Enhanced CO2 Separation Using Water Swellable Polymer/ Amine Functionalized Zinc Oxide Mixed Matrix Membrane

Enhanced CO2 Separation Using Water Swellable Polymer/ Amine Functionalized Zinc Oxide Mixed Matrix Membrane

Rajashree Borgohain, Pradip Das, Bishnupada Mandal

Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India- 781039

Correspondence to: B. Mandal (E-mail: bpmandal@iitg.ac.in)

The
separation and capture of CO₂ is widely believed to be an important
route for moderating the problem of global warming. In this regard, membrane
separation technology has grabbed the attention of researchers owing to its
functional simplicity, cost effectiveness and corrosion free nature. Mixed
matrix membranes are gaining popularity as efficient CO₂-selective
membranes over polymeric or inorganic membranes, due to their improved thermal
and mechanical properties. In the present study, the amine functionalized zinc
oxide (AF-ZnO) has been loaded on a water swellable polymer (WSP) i.e. carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) membrane.
The CO₂ separation from CO₂/N₂ mixture has
taken place via solution diffusion and facilitated transport mechanism. The
synthesized membranes have been characterized employing various microscopic and
spectroscopic techniques. The moisture holding behavior of the mixed matrix
membrane has also been assessed. The synthesis, characterization and permeation
results are shown in Figure 1. The result obtained from the gas permeation
study justifies that the proposed membrane can be a budding system for CO₂
separation application.

 Figure 1. Overall
representation of the synthesis and characterization of CMC/AF-ZnO mixed matrix membrane used for CO₂ separation