Preparation and characteristics of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes in polyimide mixed matrix membrane

• Main Authors: Sanip, S. M., Ismail, Ahmad Fauzi, Goh, P. S., Ng, B. C., Abdullah, Mohd. Sohaimi, Soga, Tetsuo, Tanemura, Masaki, Yasuhiko, Hayashi
• Format: Article
• Published: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd 2010
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/26616/; https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793292010002104

The functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with ß cyclodextrin (ß-CD) is described. The functionalization using ß-CD treatment is an environmentally friendly and nondestructive method to modify carbon nanotubes. It was observed that the degree of functionalization increases with increasing ratios of ß-CD as seen from the Raman analysis. The Raman spectra also indicated that the nanotubes walls were not damaged. The presence of functional groups associated with ß-CD on the functionalized MWNTs indicated that the cyclodextrin groups were found to be adsorbed at the surface of the nanotubes walls. Mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was prepared by a phase inversion process. Enhanced selectivity and permeability for CO2 over CH4 was observed for MMM prepared using functionalized MWNTs.