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Polysulfone Membranes Incorporated with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Olefin/Paraffin Separation
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Polysulfone Membranes Incorporated with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Olefin/Paraffin Separation

Mohadeseh Najafi, Morteza Sadeghi, Ahmad A. Shamsabadi, Mohammad Dinari and Masoud Soroush
ChemistrySelect (Weinheim), v 5(12), pp 3675-3681
31 Mar 2020

Abstract

Mixed matrix membranes Olefin-paraffin Polysulfone Reduced graphene oxide
The membrane technology has received considerable attention for olefin/paraffin separation in recent years, owing to its attractive energy efficiency. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is prepared via hydrothermal treatment of graphene oxide. The prepared rGO is characterized and then incorporated into polysulfone (PSF) to fabricate mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs). The fabricated membranes are characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray powder diffraction. The gas transport properties of the MMMs are evaluated for ethylene/ethane and propylene/propane gas pairs at 2 bar and 30∘C . Permeation tests indicate that the PSF membrane embedded with 1.0 wt% of the rGO nanosheets has 143% and 193% higher C2H4 and C3H6 permeabilities, respectively, its C3H6/C3H8 selectivity is 18% higher, but its C2H4/C2H6 selectivity is 23% lower, compared to those of the pristine PSF membrane. The gas permeability enhancement is attributed to improved gas diffusion and solubility coefficients. These results indicate the potential of rGO nanosheets for the enhancement of olefin permeabilities without significant drops in olefin/paraffin selectivities. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was obtained by hydrothermal treatment of GO. The mixed‐matrix membrane containing 1% rGO in polysulfone has 143% and 193% higher C2H4 and C3H6 permeabilities, respectively. Its C3H6/C3H8 selectivity is 18% higher, but its C2H4/C2H6 selectivity is 23% lower.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
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