Plasticization and Aging Effect on Polysulfone (PsF) Based Mixed Matrix Membrane in Carbon Dioxide Permeation

Polysulfone (PsF) membranes which undergo plasticization during gas separation involving CO2 is a rising issue that has to be dealt with. Plasticization which is an irreversible process causes the disentanglement of polymer chains at high pressure observed by the depression of the glass transition temperature, Tg. Another problem faced by the polymeric membranes such as PsF aging which is the deterioration of the membranes performance with time. Mixed matrix membranes which contains the mixture of polymeric membranes and inorganic particles makes use of the advantages of both the components, making it the new approach in the membrane separation technology. In the present work, PsF/ZIF-8 mixed matrix membrane was fabricated and their structural properties was characterized using analytical tools such as scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray. The resultant membranes underwent plasticization and aging test in CO2 permeation. The resultant data showed that the membranes fabricated using different loadings of ZIF-8 improved the aging duration of the membrane. Pure PsF membrane showed a 49.97% permeation reduction due to aging after 30 days. The MMM with 5 wt% ZIF-8 showed a 47.54% permeation reduction while the 20 wt% ZIF-8 MMM showed a 5.99% permeation reduction. The membranes shows and increase in resistance towards aging effect with the increase in the amount of loading of ZIF-8.The resultant mixed matrix membrane also showed improvements in permeation towards CO2. However, no significant improvements towards plasticization was discovered from the mixed matrix membrane fabricated in the present work.