Poly(amide-12-b-ethylene oxide)/glycerol triacetate blend membranes for CO2 separation

Abstract In this paper, CO 2 -philic membranes are prepared with poly(amide-12-b-ethylene oxide) (Pebax1074) and glycerol triacetate (GTA) by polymer blending, which show excellent compatibility for different GTA compositions. The additive GTA into Pebax1074 matrix can improve the chain mobility, induce high CO 2 -philicity and decrease membrane crystallinity. With the increase of GTA mass content from 0 to 80 wt%, CO 2 permeability increases from ∼135 to ∼1800 Barrer, and CO 2 /H 2 ideal selectivity also increases from 10 to 19. For Pebax1074/GTA blend membranes, the threshold mass content of GTA ( C *) which corresponds to the rapid increase of gas permeability is about 40 wt%. When GTA mass content is not more than C * (40 wt%), the gas permeation properties are mainly dominated by Pebax1074. But for Pebax1074/GTA blend membranes with GTA mass content above C * (40 wt%), their gas permeabilities and CO 2 /light gas selectivities both change dramatically, which are mainly influenced by GTA. These membranes show excellent separation performance for CO 2 /N 2 and CO 2 /H 2 , especially for CO 2 /H 2 separation.