Bromomethylated poly(phenylene oxide) (BPPO)-assisted fabrication of UiO-66-NH2/BPPO/polyethersulfone mixed matrix membrane for enhanced gas separation

UiO-66-NH2 nanocrystals were synthesized and embedded into bromomethylated poly(phenylene oxide)/polyethersulfone (BPPO/PES) polymer matrix to form UiO-66-NH2/BPPO/PES mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The crystalline structure, interaction between UiO-66-NH2 and BPPO, and dispersion of UiO-66-NH2 were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Nanoparticle dispersion was drastically enhanced with the assistance of BPPO, giving an improved adhesion between the polymer and filler particles. Owing to the intrinsic adsorption property of UiO-66-NH2 and BPPO to CO2, the CO2 permeability was significantly increased. As a result, the UiO-66-NH2/BPPO/PES membrane exhibited enhanced gas separation performance, where CO2/N-2 and H-2/N-2 ideal selectivities were increased to 50.2 and 302.4 with a CO2 permeability of 125.6 Barrer. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46759.