Synergistic effect of adding graphene oxide and ZIF-301 to polysulfone to develop high performance mixed matrix membranes for selective carbon dioxide separation from post combustion flue gas

•Water stable PSF/GO/ZIF-301 MMMs were prepared via solution-casting technique.•First attempt to include water stable material ZIF 301 into MMM in presence of graphene oxide.•GO and ZIF-301 nanocrystals were homogeneously dispersed in PSF with good interfacial filler-matrix adhesion.•Collegial effect of incorporating GO and ZIF-301 nanocrystals efficiently improved separation performance of CO2 from N2.

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIF-301) were synergistically integrated to glassy polysulfone (PSF) to prepare mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) for CO2 separation from post combustion flue gas. Both nanofillers were incorporated in PSF in varying compositions using solution-casting technique to optimize CO2 separation performance of composite membranes form dry and wet gases. The flexible MMMs rendered homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers, improved polymer-filler adhesion, and thermally stable structure. Gas sorption analyses along with dry and wet gas permeation experiments showed improved CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity of MMMs due to synergistic effect of nanofillers. The prepared MMMs demonstrated about four- and three-folds increment in CO2 permeability CO2/N2 selectivity respectively as compared to that of bare PSF membrane. Separation performance of composite membranes was found to better than already existing membranes; they were stable in presence of water and performance was not affected by humid conditions.

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