Effect of mixed matrix membranes comprising a novel trinuclear zinc MOF, fumed silica nanoparticles and PES on CO2/CH4 separation

The influence of binary and ternary component mixed matrix membranes containing a novel Zn-based MOF, fumed silica and PES matrix was investigated for CO2/CH4 separation. The prepared membranes were characterized by XRD, FESEM, AFM, TGA and DSC techniques. The measured selectivity of 15 wt% loading of MOF in PES showed 39.21% decrease toward pure PES. However, the addition of nonporous fumed silica nanoparticles enhanced selectivity parameters by 20.04, 49.88 and 89.45% for 5, 10 and 15 wt% filler content in PES/silica/MOF MMMs, respectively. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.