Pebax2533 Gas Separation Membrane for CO₂ Capture Applications: Incorporation and Assessment of New Configured UiO-66 Metal-organic Frameworks

A new configured type of UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks including a honeycomb configuration was utilized to fabricate mixed matrix membranes. The impact of two different types of Pebax solvents, N,N-dimethylformamide and water : ethanol mixture (70 : 30 wt %), on morphological structure and CO₂ capture performances of the neat Pebax2533 were initially evaluated. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses were employed to study morphology of the samples. The typical constant-pressure method was also used to assess separation performance. N,N-dimethylformamide provided the production of more crystalline structures with higher porosities. Additionally, the application of metal-organic frameworks resulted in high CO₂ permeability and binary selectivity due to ease of metal-organic frameworks dispersion, small particle agglomeration and hydrogen binding within the polymer matrix. This led to enhancement of CO₂ solubility into Pebax2533 in a way that CO₂ permeability and CO₂/CH₄, CO₂/N₂ selectivity values raised about 76.8, 38.3, and 92.7%, respectively.