Surface modification of Poly Ether Block Amide membrane – The Role of amine compounds in carbon dioxide gas separation properties

In search for improvement in performance of gas separator membranes, there is a range of innovative appraches to optimize their properteis. Meanwhile, this reaction group, has extensivly worked on this topic for many years along with other scientists around the world. This research is one of many other projects on this topic; where, in order to imporve the speration propertis, the surface of Poly Ether Block Amide (PEBAX1657) membrane was modified employing amine compounds (ethylenediamine(EDA), diethylenetriamine(DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA)). This process was applied at two steps employing isocyanate and amine solutions. Furthemore, the effect of the solvent was investigated as well. The surface of membranes was assessed by ATR-FTIR and contact angle (CA). The obtained results confirmed the surface improvements; in which, the hydrophilicity of the modified membranes was improved due to the increament of amine groups concentration. When diethylenetriamine was employed as a surface modifier, the yield of grafting and concentration reached the highest value; therefore, the permeability in this modified sample was increased to 80 barriers and its selectivity in CO2/N2 separation was increased to 78. The achievemnts confirmed the dcrement of permeability rate of carbon dioxide of the membranes.