Transport and separation properties of zeolite filled P84 copolyimide membranes

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed acceptable connections between the two phases of fabricated flat Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs) using backbone and fillers of P84 copolyimideand zeolite 4A in addition to a their higher isopropanol (IPA) pervaporative dehydration performances. Higher MMM annealing temperature was found favourable to improve fillers and polymer adhesion. Pervaporation (PV) experiments results are show the better MMMs PVperformances as filler loading increases up to 15 Wt. % (up to 8 times for selectivity and 70% for total permeation flux). Feed water content was also found to have significant effects on PV performance of the membranes due to the membrane swelling: reduction in selectivity by morethan 20 times and increment in total permeation flux by 40% as water content increases from 10 to 40 Wt. %. Feed temperature increment from 30 to 60 °C influenced selectivity and total permeation flux by 4 times reduction and 40% increment, respectively.. The best IPA dehydration performance was obtained for filler loading o15 Wt. % and feed water content and temperature of 10 Wt. %: 7500 for selectivity and total permeation flux 0.026 kg/m2.h.

Keywords:

Mixed matrix membrane , P84 co-polyimide , Zeolite 4A , Separation