Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/poly(vinyl acetate)/nanosilica mixed matrix membrane for He/CH4 separation. Issue 5 (20th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bandehali, Samaneh; Kargari, Ali; Moghadassi, Abdolreza; Saneepur, Hamidreza; Ghanbari, Davood
• Is Part Of: Asia-Pacific journal of chemical engineering. Volume 9:Issue 5(2014:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 638
• Page End: 644
• Publication Date: 2014-02-20
• Subjects: Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/apj.1792
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1932-2135

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>In the present work, the separation of He/CH₄ through different polymeric membranes has been considered. In this regard, composite flat sheet membranes are prepared from blending acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) with different amounts of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) (0–40 wt%). Gas permeability/selectivity analyses as well as the pressure effects were studied for the prepared membranes. The results demonstrated that the ABS/PVAc (20 wt%) membrane revealed higher permselectivity. Afterwards, novel mixed matrix membranes were prepared by incorporating 1–5 wt% SiO₂ nanoparticles into the ABS/PVAc (20 wt%). Additionally, further modification was carried out with the addition of styrene–butadiene–rubber (SBR) (5–15 wt%). The primary results of the prepared mixed matrix membranes showed a significant increase in the He permeability together with a decrease in He/CH₄ selectivity by incorporating the SiO₂ nanoparticles into the blend membranes. Finally, with the introduction of SBR, the (He permeability) selectivity was enhanced from (6.30 Barrer) 45 for the neat ABS/PVAc (20 wt%) to (42.39 Barrer) 51.88 for the ABS/PVAc (20 wt%)/SiO₂ (3 wt%)/SBR (15 wt%) membrane. © 2014 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>