(143a) Zeolite-13X- and ZIF-8 Filled PVA Mixed Matrix Membranes for Use in CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 Separation

Continual global warming has become a global concern with policy makers, and particularly the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning that the earth temperature should not be more than 2°C higher than pre-industrial revolution temperatures. Separation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from nitrogen (N₂) has therefore become a topic of interest for applications on CO₂ capture from combustion gases. Also, separation of CO₂ from methane (CH₄) has been explored to produce renewable natural gas from landfill gas. This research focuses on separation of CO₂ from CH₄ and N₂ gases using mixed-matrix membranes filled with adsorbents. The mixed matrix membranes were composed of amine-based Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer membranes that had previously been optimized for CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ separation. Two different adsorbent filler materials were used: the metal organic framework zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and zeolite 13X. These fillers were chosen because of the good separation performance they had shown when used with different polymeric materials. The membranes were tested at near atmospheric conditions at a feed pressure of 2.5 atm. The best performing CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ separating membranes were then tested at three different feed pressures from 1atm- 3atm to investigate the effect of the feed pressure on CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ separation.