Hydrogen separation and purification using crosslinkable PDMS/zeolite A nanoparticles mixed matrix membranes

The transport properties of gases in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/zeolite A mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were determined based on pure gas permeation experiments. MMMs were prepared by incorporating zeolite 4A nanoparticles into a PDMS matrix using a new procedure. The permeation rates of C3H8, CH4, CO2, and H2 were evaluated through a dense homogeneous pure PDMS membrane and PDMS/4A MMMs to assess the viability of these membranes for natural gas sweetening and hydrogen purification. SEM investigations showed good adhesion of the polymer to the zeolite in MMMs. Permeation performance of the membranes was also investigated using a laboratory-scale gas separation apparatus and effects of feed pressure, zeolite loading and pore size of zeolite on the gas separation performance of the MMMs were evaluated. The MMMs exhibited both higher selectivity of H2/CH4 and H2 permeability as compared with the neat PDMS membrane, suggesting that these membranes are very promising for gas separations such as H2/CH4 separation.

► PDMS/zeolite A MMMs were prepared using a new procedure.
► Homogeneous distribution of zeolite nanoparticles was observed.
► PDMS/zeolite 4A MMMs are beyond the Robeson trade-off curve for H2/CH4 separation.
► Molecular sieving effect of the zeolite in the MMM was investigated.