Mechanochemically synthesized <scp>ZIF</scp>‐8 nanoparticles blended into <scp>6FDA‐TrMPD</scp> membranes for <scp>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>6</sub></scp>/<scp>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub></scp> separation
Yongsheng Liu, Hidetoshi Kita, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Kota Imawaka, Shunsuke Tanaka, Takahiko Takewaki
Abstract
Abstract The mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) consisting zeolitic‐imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) nanoparticles in a polymer have been of considerable interest in separation applications. The fillers used are mostly synthesized using the solvothermal method. In this study, the ZIF‐8 nanoparticles were synthesized using a solvent‐less and salt‐free mechanochemical method and were added to 6FDA‐TrMPD polyimide to prepare MMMs. The single gas permeation of C 3 H 6 and C 3 H 8 through the MMMs was investigated. The C 3 H 6 permeability and C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 ideal selectivity of a 20 wt% mechano‐synthesized ZIF‐8/6FDA‐TrMPD MMM were 70% and 32% higher than those of the neat polymer membrane at 0.1 MPa and 308 K, respectively. The C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 separation performance of the mechano‐synthesized ZIF‐8 MMM was similar to that of the conventional solvothermal‐synthesized ZIF‐8 MMM. This separation performance was in good agreement with the Maxwell model. Temperature and pressure dependence analyses confirmed that the mechano‐synthesized ZIF‐8 nanoparticles acted as molecular sieves in the MMMs for the C 3 H 6 and C 3 H 8 permeation.