Orientation of magnetic particles in mixed matrix membrane using external magnetic field for gas permeability enhancement

In this research, magnetic mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) containing 3 wt.% neodymium (Nd) are prepared for oxygen/nitrogen separation. To create preferential permeation pathways for oxygen molecules across the MMMs, the membrane preparation is conducted under an external magnetic field (MF) and the required magnetic force to arrange the particle dispersion in a polymer matrix is determined with the aid of ANSYS Maxwell software. Optical microscope images reveal that Nd particles are aligned in the membrane matrix according to the direction of applied MF. The MF-aligned Nd/PSf membranes present higher permeability and lower selectivity than the un-aligned membranes and PSf.

Keywords:

Polysulfone , magnetic mixed matrix membranes , gas separation , Orientation