effect of nano zinc oxide on gas permeation through mixed matrix poly (amide-6-b-ethylene oxide)-based membranes

Poly (amide-6-b-ethylene oxide)/zinc oxide (peba/zno) mixed matrix membranes were fabricated using ethanol/water as solvent by solvent casting method. the concentration of zno in membrane was set to 0.1 wt.% and the synthesized membranes were characterized by afm and ftir. effects of zno nanoparticle on co2, ch4 and n2 permeabilities, and co2/n2 and co2/ch4 selectivities of the membranes were investigated at the ambient temperature and pressure range of 4–12 bar. the results revealed that the co2 permeability of the nano-composite membrane increased 158 % with pressure, from 54.08 barrer (at 4 bar) to 139.59 barrer (at 12 bar). furthermore, co2 permeability for the nano-composite membrane was higher than neat polymeric membrane. the peba/zno nano-composite membranes thus provide a promising potential for co2/n2 and co2/ch4 separation.