Sustainable mixed matrix membranes containing porphyrin and polysulfone polymer for acid gas separations

Sidra Saqib; Sikander Rafiq; Nawshad Muhammad; Asim Laeeq Khan; Ahmad Mukhtar; Sami Ullah; Mian Hasnain Nawaz; Farrukh Jamil; Chong Zhang; Veeramuthu Ashokkumar

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125155

Sustainable mixed matrix membranes containing porphyrin and polysulfone polymer for acid gas separations

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Jun 5:411:125155. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125155. Epub 2021 Jan 15.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Punjab 54000, Pakistan.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Punjab 54000, Pakistan; Department of Chemical Polymer & Composite Material Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, New Campus, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: sikander@uet.edu.pk.
³ Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Punjab 54000, Pakistan; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Khyber Medical University, Peshawar.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Punjab 54000, Pakistan.
⁷ Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China.
⁸ Center of Excellence in Catalysis for Bioenergy and Renewable Chemicals (CBRC), Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

PMID: 33858108
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125155

Abstract

The synergetic effect of nitrogen-rich and CO₂-philic filler and polymer in mixed matrix-based membranes (MMMs) can separate CO₂ competently. The introduction of well-defined nanostructured porous fillers of pores close to the kinetic diameter of the gas molecule and polymer matrix compatibility is a challenge in improving the gas transportation characteristics of MMMs. This study deals with the preparation of porphyrin filler and the polysulfone (PSf) polymer MMMs. The fillers demonstrated uniform distribution, uniformity, and successful bond formation. MMMs demonstrated high thermal stability with a glass transition temperature in the range of 480-610 °C. The porphyrin filler exhibited microporous nature with the presence of π-π bonds and Lewis's basic functionalities between filler-polymer resulted in a highly CO₂-philic structure. The pure and mixed gas permeabilities and selectivity were successfully improved and surpass the Robeson's upper bound curve's tradeoff. Additionally, the temperature influence on CO₂ permeability revealed lower activation energies at higher temperatures leading to the gas transport facilitation. This can be granted consistency and long-term durability in polymer chains. These results highlight the unique properties of porphyrin fillers in CO₂ separation mixed matrix membranes and offer new knowledge to increase comprehension of PSf performance under various contents or environments.

Keywords: CO(2) capture; Mixed matrix membranes; Permeability; Polysulfone; Porphyrin; Selectivity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't