Development of PSF/APTES-nano-MCM-48 Mixed Matrix Membrane for CO2/CH4 Separation

• Main Author: Murugiah, Pannir Selvam
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2016
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/22865/1/FYPII_MAY_2016_DISSERTATION_M.PANNIR%20SELVAM.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/22865/

The incorporation of inorganic fillers into polymer matrix forms mixed matrix membrane (MMM). Generally, due to the low hydrophobicity of inorganic fillers, undesirable voids are formed on the polymer-inorganic interface, which affects the gas separation performance of the MMMs. In addition to that, the trace addition of nanosized inorganic fillers reported to have smaller inter-particle free-space length compared to micro-sized inorganic fillers on polymer matrix. Thus, this project focused on MMM fabrication using polysulfone (PSf) and functionalized-nano-MCM48 as the polymer matrix and inorganic filler respectively to separate CO2 from CH4. Nano-sized MCM-48 particles was synthesized via modified Stöber method and further functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) via post synthesis grafting method to increase its surface hydrophobicity.