Cellulose-based carbon membranes for gas separations- Unraveling structural parameters and surface chemistry for superior separation performance

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Tiago Araújo (Author) FEUP; Andrew J. Parnell (Author) Other; Gabriel Bernardo (Author) FEUP; Adélio Mendes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Carbon

Vol. 204

Pages: 398-410

ISSN: 0008-6223

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-RK4

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2022.12.062

Abstract (EN): Carbon molecular sieve membranes were prepared from the carbonization of a cellulose-based polymeric pre -cursor doped with urea. The addition of urea to the cellulose precursor induces an increase in structural disorder and an increase in pore volume inside the structure of prepared membranes. This unique preparation procedure proved to be an extremely effective method for tuning the pore size of carbon membranes to the desired sepa-rations. Urea acts as a pore-forming agent that allows the fabrication of carbon membranes with high porosity. The addition of 2.8 wt% of urea doubled the permeability of the prepared carbon membrane to hydrogen. In addition, a permeability to oxygen of 333 barrer was obtained, without impairing the selectivity. The proposed preparation procedure is compatible with industrial production and scaling, hopefully making carbon mem-branes a viable solution to produce oxygen-enriched air, recovering of hydrogen from hydrocarbon streams and carbon dioxide removal from natural gas/biogas.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13