Optimizing CO2/CH4 Separation Performance of Modified Pebax MH 1657 Membrane Using a Statistical Experimental Design Technique

Statistically based experimental design (central composite design, CCD) was applied to analyze and optimize the effect of PEG-ran-PPG (10–50 wt%) and CuBTC (0–20 wt%) mass contents on the CO2 permeance and CO2/CH4 ideal selectivity of Pebax MH 1657/polysulfone composite membrane. Based on the regression coefficients of the obtained models, the CO2 permeance was notably influenced by PEG-ran-PPG, while CuBTC has the most significant effect on the CO2/CH4 ideal selectivity. Under the optimum conditions (PEG-ran-PPG: 32.76 wt% and CuBTC: 20 wt%), nearly 620% increase in the CO2 permeance and 43% enhancement in the CO2/CH4 ideal selectivity was observed compared to the neat Pebax.

Keywords:

CO2 separation , Composite membrane , Ccentral composite design.