Gas Pemeation of pure $CO_{2}$ and $N_{2}$ through plasma-Treated Polypropylene Membranes

The surface of polypropylene membrane was modified by plasma treatment using Ar,$N_{2}$, $NH_{2}$ and $O_{2}$ Permeabilities for $CO_{2}$, $N_{2}$ and separation factor for $CO_{2}$ relative to $N_{2}$ were measured. The permeation experiments were performed by a variable volume method at $25^{\circ}C$ and 0.303MPa. The effects of the plasma conditions such as treatement time power input gas flow rate and pressure in the reactor on the transport properties of modified membrane were investigated. The surface of the plasma treated membrane was analyzed by means of FTIR-ATR XPS and AFM. The surface structure of the plasma treated membrane was fairly different from that of the untreated membrane. Although the permeation rates for both $CO_{2}$ and $N_{2}$ decreased with increasing plasma treatement time the separation factor was found to be improved by the plasma treatement. The operating conditions of plasma treatement imposed on membranes had notable effect on the permeability and separation factor.