Molecular engineering of PIM-1/Matrimid blend membranes for gas separation

The polymers of intrinsic microporosity have gained the attention as one of the potential materials for membrane gas separation. The contorted ladder-like structure in polymers of intrinsic microporosity, specifically PIM-1 possesses high permeability but with moderate selectivity for O2/N2, CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separation. We report here the most convenient and time efficient strategy of tuning the permeability and selectivity by blending PIM-1 with different compositions of Matrimid. In this work, the physical properties, phase behavior and gas transport properties of PIM-1/Matrimid blends have been explored. The polarized light microscope (PLM) analyses evidence that most of the PIM-1/Matrimid blends reveal partially miscible behavior. The inclusion of PIM-1 in the Matrimid matrix results in a substantial increase in gas permeability and a slight decrease in selectivity. The additions of 5 and 10 wt% PIM-1 into Matrimid induce the permeability increments of 25% and 77%, respectively from the original 9.6 to 12 and 17 Barrer without compromising its CO2/CH4 selectivity. For O2/N2 separation, the incorporation of a small amount of Matrimid (e.g., 5–30 wt%) into PIM-1 promotes a fair increase in selectivity and drives the overall gas separation performance surpassing or close to the upper bound. At binary gas tests of CO2/CH4 (50%/50%), the 30 wt% PIM-1 in Matrimid membrane has a CO2 permeability of 50 Barrer and a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 31.

► Tuning the permeability and selectivity by blending PIM-1 with Matrimid. ► Most of the PIM-1/Matrimid blends exhibit partially miscible behavior. ► A small loading of PIM-1 into Matrimid increases the permeability by 25% and 77% without compromising its CO2/CH4 selectivity. ► A CO2 permeability of 50 Barrer with a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 31 is achieved in binary gas test.