Synthesis of SBA 15 graphene oxide composite membrane using phenol-formaldehyde resin pore modifier for CO2 separation

Present study highlights the development of carbon-loaded SBA 15 membrane on clay-alumina tubular support and its performance on the CO2 separation efficiencies from different mixture gases. To modify the large pores of SBA 15 by graphitic carbon, low molecular weight phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin was incorporated into the mesoporous channel followed by calcination under inert atmosphere. The modified ordered pore structure of the membrane has been characterized by low-angle XRD, TEM, and pore size distribution analysis. The chemical state of the deposited carbon phase into the SBA 15 pores was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. Carbon having graphitic nature mainly in graphene oxide has been deposited into the mesopore of SBA 15 resulting decrease in pore size from 8.9 to 1.0 nm. Finally, the developed SBA 15 carbon membranes were characterized by CO2 permeation and separation selectivity of CO2/CH4, CO2/CO. Highest CO2/CH4 separation factor was achieved as 16.9 with CO2 permeance 13.6 x 10(-8) mol/m(2)/s/Pa at 200 kPa feed pressure by the 20% resin with 2 times coated membrane. In flue gas analysis, highest CO2/CO separation factor of 32.8 was achieved. This study offers an observation on CO2 separation from simulated BF gas for the first time and the results show the potential of the developed SBA 15/C composite membranes in commercial application.

Automated summary

The study focuses on the development of carbon-loaded SBA 15 membrane for CO2 separation from different gas mixtures. By modifying the pore structure of SBA 15 with graphitic carbon, the membrane showed improved separation efficiency, with highest CO2/CH4 separation factor achieved at 16.9 and highest CO2/CO separation factor at 32.8. The results demonstrate the potential of the developed SBA 15/C composite membranes for commercial applications.