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The effect of silica nanoparticles on polysulfone–polyethylene glycol (PSF/PEG) composite membrane on gas separation and rheological properties of nanocomposites

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Abstract

Currently, composite membranes play a significant role in the separation of acidic gases. Inorganic nanoparticles are used in these composite membranes to enhance the thermal and chemical properties of composites. In this study, polysulfone–polyethylene glycol/silica (PSF–PEG/silica) nanocomposite membranes were investigated for the purpose of improvement of the N2, O2, CH4 and CO2 separation properties. The results of gas permeability in nanocomposite membranes showed that the PSF/PEG 10,000 membrane, with 20 wt% of silica, provided the best gas separation properties. CO2 permeability in the nanocomposite membrane with 20 wt% of silica was 13.36 Barrer. In addition, the ideal selectivity for CO2/N2 paired gases in this membrane was 45.76, which was higher than the values obtained in the pure PSF membrane and the composite membrane with 20 wt% PEG 10,000. In addition, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and a tensile strength test were all used to examine the membrane structure and morphology of the nanocomposite. Finally, mechanical rheometry was used to study the rheological properties of hybrid nanosized composites and the effect of nanoparticle percentage on them.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. M. Sadeghi (Isfahan University of Technology, Chemical Engineering Faculty, Isfahan, Iran) for encouraging them to carry out the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Iman Salahshoori, Niloufar Rashidi, Ali Hatami & Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Islamic Azad University of Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran

    Danial Nasirian

  3. Institute of Health and Sports, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Md Kamal Hossain & Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari

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  1. Iman Salahshoori
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Contributions

Iman Salahshoori, Ali Hatami contributed to conceptualization and methodology; Danial Nasirian, Iman Salahshoori, Niloufar Rashidi, Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari contributed to formal analysis and investigation; Niloufar Rashidi, Iman Salahshoori helped in writing—original draft preparation; Md Kamal Hossain, Ali Hatami contributed to writing—review, data analysis and editing; Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari helped in resources, supervision and writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari.

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Salahshoori, I., Nasirian, D., Rashidi, N. et al. The effect of silica nanoparticles on polysulfone–polyethylene glycol (PSF/PEG) composite membrane on gas separation and rheological properties of nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 78, 3227–3258 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03255-8

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