• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2015

In the past few decades, polymeric membrane has played an important role in gas separation applications. For the separation of $CO_2$, one of greenhouse gases, high permselectivity, long-term stability and scale-up are needed. However, conventional polymeric membranes have shown a trade-off relation between permeability and selectivity while inorganic materials are highly permeable but expensive. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) combining the advantages of both polymeric and inorganic materials have become a possible breakthrough for the next-generation gas separation membranes. The MMMs could be either symmetric or asymmetric but the latter is more preferred to improve the permeance. Important factors influencing the MMM fabrication include homogeneous distribution of inorganic particles and good interfacial contact between inorganic filler and organic matrix. Recently, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have received much attention as a new class of porous crystalline materials and a potential candidate for $CO_2$ separation. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), a sub-branch of MOFs, are the most widely used in MMMs due to small particle size and appropriate pore size for $CO_2$ separation. One of the major issues associated with the incorporation of porous particles in a polymeric membrane is to control the microstructure of the porous particle materials such as particle size, orientation, and boundary conditions etc. In this review, major challenges surrounding MMMs and the strategies to tackle these challenges are given in detail.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.496-502
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• 2015

Facilitated transport is one of the possible solutions to simultaneously improve permeability and selectivity, which is challenging in conventional polymer-based membranes. Olefin/paraffin separation using facilitated transport membrane has received much attention as an alternative solution to the conventional distillation process. Herein, we report olefin separation composite membranes based on the polymer blends containing $AgBF_4/Al(NO_3)_3$ mixed salts. Free radical polymerization process was used to synthesize an amphiphilic graft copolymer of poly(dimethyl siloxane)-graft- poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PDMS-g-POEM). In addition, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was introduced to the PDMS-g-POEM graft copolymer to form polymer blends with various ratios. The propylene/propane mixed-gas selectivity and permeance reached up to 5.6 and 10.05 GPU, respectively, when the PEO loading was 70 wt% in polymer blend. The improvement of olefin separation performance was attributed to the olefin facilitating silver ions as well as the highly permeable blend matrix. The stabilization of silver ions in the composite membrane was achieved through the introduction of $Al(NO_3)_3$ which suppressed the reduction of silver ions to silver particles.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.406-413
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• 2018

In OBIGGS, a small amount of ozone in the atmosphere damages the polymer membrane. Therefore, the ozone removal device is installed at the front end to prevent the damage of the membrane by reducing the concentration of ozone in the gas delivered to the membrane. In this study, two hollow fiber membranes, PI and PSf, used to fabrication hollow fiber module with an effective membrane area of $6.37cm^2$ for gas separation in OBIGGS. The ozone concentration in the chamber was maintained at 2-3 ppm. The gas was continuously supplied into the module by using a pump. The gas permeation characteristics and the tensile strength were evaluated as a function of ozone exposure time. The PI-based hollow fiber membrane showed only 20% reduction in the transmittance, and remained its original uniformity without any significant changes. However, when PSf type hollow fiber membranes were used, the permeability decreased by more than 80% and the tensile strength decreased by more than 70%.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

As the membrane gas separation technology grows, various models were developed by numerous researchers to describe the separation process. In this work, the counter-current model was compared thoroughly with experimental data. Experimentally, hollow fiber membrane using CA module was prepared for the separation of biogas. The pure gas permeation properties of membrane module for methane, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide were measured. The permeance of CO2 and CH4 were 25.82 GPU and 0.65 GPU, respectively. The high CO2/CH4 selectivity of 39.7 was obtained. the separation test for three different simulated mixed gases were carried out after pure gas test, and the gas concentration of the permeate at various stage-cut were measured from CA membrane module. Results showed that the experimental data agreed with the numerical simulation. A mathematical model has implemented in this study for the separation of biogas using a membrane module. The finite difference method (FDM) is applied to calculate the membrane biogas separation behaviors. Futhermore, the counter-current model can be considered as a convenient model for biogas separation process.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2021

Gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration system based on the nanofiber membrane was investigated. This system can be operated with little energy demand due to a gravitational pressure-driven filtration and biological fouling control strategy. Moreover, the optimal module configuration based on the high permeance of nanofiber membrane can provide a significantly high water productivity. In order to evaluate its applicability potential, the pilot-scale (3000-5000 L/day) systems with nanofiber membranes were operated in developing countries (Kiribati and Tuvalu). Our results showed that the 14-92 L/(m²×h) of the permeate flux was determined indicating a stabilized water productivity. In addition, the permeate water indicated a high removal rate (more than 99.99%) of turbidity and bacteria. Consequently, the system can provide a stabilized water production with safe permeate water quality during long-term operation. These findings exemplify an effective approach to decentralized drinking water treatment for developing countries.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2023

In general, the presence of non-selective intercrystalline (grain boundary) defects in polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) or zeolite membranes, which are known to be ca. 1 nm in size, causes lower membrane performance (selectivity) than the intrinsically expected. In this study we show that applying a thin polymeric coating of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on a polycrystalline MOF membrane is effective to cap the non-selective intercrystalline defects and therefore improve membrane performance. To demonstrate the concept, first, polycrystalline UiO-66, one of Zr-based MOFs, membranes were prepared by an in-situ solvothermal growth. By controlling membrane growth condition with respect to growth temperature, we were able to obtain polycrystalline UiO-66 membranes at 150 ℃ with intercrystalline defects of which the quantity is not significant, so it can be plugged by the suggested PDMS deposition. Second, their performances were compared before and after the PDMS deposition. As expected, the PDMS deposition ended up with a noticeable increase in CO₂/N₂ ideal selectivity from 6 to 14, indicating successful intercrystalline defect plugging. However, the enhancement in CO₂/N₂ selectivity was accompanied by a significant reduction in CO₂ permeance from 5700 to 33 GPU because the PDMS deposition not only plugs defects but also forms a continuous coating on membrane surface, adding an additional transport resistance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.214-221
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• 2024

Polyether ketone (PEEK) has been widely used in membranes because of its excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, and significant mechanical strength. However, the melting temperature is very high, making it difficult to find suitable solvents. Therefore, in this study, PEEK and benzophenone (DPK) were used as diluents to prepare a membrane with excellent mechanical strength and chemical stability using the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method to compensate for the shortcomings of PEEK membrane preparation and achieving the highest performances. The optimal membrane manufacturing conditions were confirmed through the crystallization temperature and cloud point according to the polymer content through the phase diagram. Subsequently, the morphological changes of the membrane, influenced by the polymer and diluent content, were confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the membrane thickness tended to increase with higher polymer content. Tensile strength and DI-water permeability tests were conducted to confirm the mechanical strength and permeability of the membrane. Through the previous characteristic evaluation, it was confirmed that the membrane using PEEK had excellent mechanical strength and permeability.

• Plant Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.58-65
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• 2023

In this study, to increase the methane content of biogas supplied from Nanji Water Regeneration Center and to purify impurities, a three-stage membrane purification process was designed and installed to demonstrate operation. The methane concentration of biomethane produced in the 2 Nm3/h purification process was set to three cases: 95%, 96.5%, and 98%, and the membrane area ratio of the membrane was 1:1, 1:2, 1:1:1, The optimum conditions for the membrane area of the separator were derived by changing to five of 1:2:1 and 1:2:2. 3 stage separation membrane process of 30 Nm3/h was installed to reflect the optimum condition of 2 Nm3/h, and biomethane production of 98% or more of methane concentration was demonstrated. As a result of the operation of the 2 Nm³/h refining device, the methane recovery rate at the 98% methane concentration was 95.6% when the membrane area ratio was 1:1 as the result of the two-stage operation of the separator, and the recovery rate of methane at 1:2 was increased to 96.8%. The methane recovery rate of the membrane three-stage operation was highest at 96.8% when the membrane area ratio was operated at 1:2:1. The carbon dioxide removal rate was 16.4 to 96.4% and the 2:2 to 95.7% film area ratio in the two-step process. In the three-step process, the film area ratio was 1:2:1 to 95.4%, and the two-step process showed higher results than the three-step process. In the 30 Nm3/h scale biogas purification demonstration operation, the methane concentration after purification was 98%, the recovery rate of methane was 97.1%, the removal rate of carbon dioxide was 95.7%, and hydrogen sulfide, the cause of corrosion, was not detected, and the membrane area ratio was 1:2:1 demonstration operation, biomethane production with a methane concentration of 98% or higher was possible.