ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis and gas permeation analysis of TiO₂ nanotube-embedded cellulose acetate mixed matrix membranes

M. Hamza Rashid, Sarah Farrukh, Sofia Javed, Arshad Hussain, X. Fan, Sarim Ali, and Muhammad Ayoub

School of Chemical and Materials Engineering (SCME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan

E-mail: sarah.farrukh@scme.nust.edu.pk

Received: 15 March 2019  Accepted: 19 August 2019

Abstract:

Pristine cellulose acetate (CA) membranes and CA mixed matrix membranes (MMM) embedded with titania (TiO₂) nanotubes (Tnts) were synthesized by loading different weight percentages of Tnts (2%, 5%, 7%, 10%) in them by employing solution casting technique. The Tnts were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of TiO₂ nanoparticles in aqueous NaOH solution. Permeability of different gases; CO₂, N₂, O₂ and CH₄, was studied across these membranes and the results were compared for pure and mixed matrix membranes. Effect of pressure on permeability of different gases was also studied. The membranes were then analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Tensile Testing (TT) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Results showed that homogeneous dispersion of tubes was achieved up till 5 wt%-CA loading. The average permeation of CO₂ obtained was 25 barrer at 5 bar pressure. It was further identified that the ultimate tensile strength of mixed matrix membranes was roughly 7 times greater than the pristine membranes.

Graphic Abstract:

Keywords: Gas separation membranes; Titania nanotubes; Carbon dioxide; Methane

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00913-8

Chemical Papers 74 (3) 821–828 (2020)