Composite membranes consisting of PDMS were coated unto polyethylene sheet as support membrane for the separation of propylene over nitrogen gas. In order to enhance the selectivity and permeance of propylene over nitrogen gas, hydrophobic nanosized s...
Composite membranes consisting of PDMS were coated unto polyethylene sheet as support membrane for the separation of propylene over nitrogen gas. In order to enhance the selectivity and permeance of propylene over nitrogen gas, hydrophobic nanosized silica particles were embedded into the rubbery PDMS polymer at 10% and 20% loading. SEM images and TGA analysis determined the morphological and thermal characteristics of composite membranes. Pure gas tests were done on several manufactured membranes with nitrogen, oxygen, and propylene at pressures form 3 to 6 bar and temperatures 25, 35 and 45 °C. Addition of hydrophobic TS-720 increased the permeances of PDMS for all three gases without any significant improvement in selectivity. The mixed gas performance of silica-filled and unfilled PDMS were evaluated with a 15% of propylene/nitrogen mixture. It was observed that PDMS with TS-720 silica increased the mixed gas propylene permeance and propylene/nitrogen selectivity, while permeance and selectivity of mixed gas were respectively lower than each of pure gas. As with pure gases, the propylene permeance and propylene/nitrogen selectivity decreased with temperature in both pure PDMS and PDMS-filled with TS-720. These results indicated that TS-720 silica only increased the solubility of propylene in PDMS due to the increase in the available free volume in the PDMS polymer.