Incorporation of aluminosilicate into ZIF-activated carbon membrane for H2/CO2 and CH4/CO2 separation

For the purification of gases, distillation columns, pressure swing adsorption processes, and membrane technologies have been used. The separation selectivities and permeability's of gases through membrane technologies are improving day by day. In this study, we developed the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) membrane with the incorporation of activated carbon (AC) and aluminosilicate (AS). For the preparation of activated carbon, H3PO4 is used as an activator agent to create an abundant pore structure. AC acts as an adsorbent and has the ability to store hydrogen gas. As a uniform mixing of AC with ZIF-8 and AS was required therefore powdered activated carbon was used. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of activated carbon derived from red algae was 783.53 m(2)/g. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of aluminosilicates reveals that aluminosilicates are crystalline in structure. The surface characteristics of the modified membrane were observed by using the XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The produced membrane exhibits both particle homogeneous distribution and efficient adhesion. Single gas (H-2, CH4, and CO2) tests are performed at room temperature and at 100 degrees C. The two mixtures of gases, H-2/CO2 and CH4/CO2, are tested at room temperature and 100 degrees C. Permeation results from the ZIF membrane reveal the permeation value of H-2 and CO2 are 1.06 *10(-6), 5.23*10(-8) (mol/m(2)sPa), respectively, at room temperature. Permeation results from the ZIF-AC-AS membrane reveal the permeation value of CH4 and CO2 are 6.95*10(-8), and 7.78*10(-8) (mol/m(2)sPa), respectively, at room temperature. As the temperature rises from room temperature to 100 degrees C, the permeation values of CH4 and CO2 decrease slightly to 4.92*10(-8) and 6.82*10(-8) (mol/m(2)sPa), respectively.