Preparation of a novel polysulfone/polyethylene oxide/silicone rubber multilayer composite membrane for hydrogen–nitrogen separation

A novel polysulfone/polyethylene oxide/silicone rubber (PSf/PEO/SR) multilayer composite membrane was fabricated by double coating polysulfone substrate membrane with polyethylene oxide and silicone rubber. Gas permeation experiments were performed at 30 °C for hydrogen and nitrogen. PSf/PEO/SR membrane displayed high and steady performance for H2/N2: permeances of H2 and N2 of 49.51 and 0.601 GPU, respectively, and H2/N2 ideal separation factor of 82.3. It was explained that layer interfaces due to the introduction of PEO layer act as the permselective media and are responsible for the higher H2/N2 ideal separation factor which has exceeded the intrinsic permselectivities of the three polymers used in this study.