Novel bio-polymer based membranes for CO2/CH4 separation. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iulianelli, A.; Russo, F.; Galiano, F.; Manisco, M.; Figoli, A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of greenhouse gas control. Volume 117(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: PLA membranes -- Biogas -- Bio-CH4 -- CO2 capture -- Gas separation; CA cellulose acetate -- CS chitosan -- DSC differential scanning calorimetry -- EIPS evaporation induced phase separation -- FTIR fourier transform infrared spectroscopy -- GHG greenhouse gases -- OLA lactic acid oligomer -- PBS poly butylene succinate -- PBSA poly butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate -- PHB poly β-hydroxybutyrate -- PHB poly 3-hydroxybutyrate -- PLA poly lactic acid -- PU polyurethane -- PVA poly vinyl alcohol -- SEM scanning electron microscope -- Ji gas (i) permeating fluxes -- Pi permeability of gas (i) -- αi-gas /j-gas ideal gas selectivity of gas (i) over gas (j) -- δ membrane thickness -- Δp transmembrane pressure -- Πi permeance of single gas (i); Greenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Air -- Purification -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Gaz à effet de serre -- Périodiques; Gaz à effet de serre -- Réduction -- Périodiques; Air -- Purification -- Technological innovations; Greenhouse gases -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; 363.73874605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2022.103657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-5836

Abstract

Highlights: Ideal CO2 /CH4 selectivity for PLA membranes was higher than 220. PLA membrane samples showed 11 Barrer of CO2 permeability. PLA membrane samples were not degraded after 50 days in water at room temperature. Abstract: This work deals with the utilization of the poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to fabricate biopolymer membranes by phase inversion technique for the treatment of gaseous streams rich in CO2 and CH4 . PLA is an excellent biopolymer constituting a viable option to most of the traditional fossil-based polymers, possessing zero environmental impact once exhausted and interesting gas separation properties as membranes. Several parameters of the phase inversion process were studied in order to identify the optimal PLA membrane preparation, as a function of the best performance in terms of ideal CO2 /CH4 selectivity, CO2 permeability and membrane degradability. The PLA membranes were fully characterized in terms of morphology, thickness, differential scanning calorimetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analyses. Afterwards, single gas permeation tests were performed in order to prove the relevance of PLA membranes in CO2 /CH4 separation, and membrane degradation tests under water as well. The results of the wide experimental campaign on PLA membranes preparation evidenced how specific membrane samples (thickness > 25 μm) possess quite high CO2 /CH4 ideal selectivity (between 220 and 230) and CO2 permeability ∼ 11 Barrer at ambient temperature, which allowed to collocate this biopolymer based membrane material above the correspondent Robeson's upper bound.