Exploring the Effect of Iron Metal-Organic Framework Particles in Polylactic Acid Membranes for the Azeotropic Separation of Organic/Organic Mixtures by Pervaporation

Abstract

A microporous carboxylate metal-organic framework MIL-100 Fe was prepared as submicron particles by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis (Fe-MOF-MW). This product was explored, for the first time, for the preparation of polylactic acid (PLA) mixed matrix membranes. The produced MOF was characterised by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) as well as by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption. The effect of different Fe-MOF-MW concentrations (0.1 and 0.5 wt%) on the membrane properties and performance were evaluated. These membranes were used in the pervaporation process for the separation of methanol/methyl tert-butyl-ether mixtures at the azeotropic point. The influence of the feed temperature and vacuum pressure on the membrane performance was evaluated and the results were compared with PLA pristine membranes. Moreover, the produced membranes have been characterised in terms of morphology, MOF dispersion in the polymeric membrane matrix, wettability, thickness, mechanical resistance and swelling propensity. The presence of Fe-MOF-MW was found to have a beneficial effect in improving the selectivity of mixed matrix membranes towards methanol at both concentrations. The highest selectivity was obtained for the PLA membranes embedded with 0.5 wt% of Fe-MOF-MW and tested at the temperature of 25 °C and vacuum pressure of 0.09 mbar.

Characterisation and Antibacterial Properties of Novel Biodegradable Films Based on Alginate and Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Extract

“…Although biopolymer films have poor mechanical properties compared to synthetic films, TS of pure alginate films obtained in this study was higher compared to cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane (27 MPa), which is a widely used synthetic polymer [ 49 ]. On the other hand, EB value for pure alginate film was 3.5% which was lower than the synthetic-based polymers, PLA membrane (8%) [ 50 ], and Matrimid®5218 dense membrane (24%) [ 51 ].…”

Ultrathin, Highly Permeable Graphene Oxide/Zeolitic Imidazole Framework Polymeric Mixed-Matrix Composite Membranes: Engineering the CO2-Philic Pathway

“…The outcomes reported here suggest that interfacial engineering between polymers and fillers, in combination with the fabrication of ultrathin selective layers, act as key factors in improving the gas separation performance of state of the art composite MMMs. Furthermore, the structure of the GO-ZIF composite membrane has promising potentials for future applications such as pervaporation and could be developed for other membrane separation technologies, due to the exceptional architecture. , …”

Biobased composites from agro-industrial wastes and by-products

“…Over the last few decades, different biopolymers have been employed in membrane preparation for pervaporation (PV) applications that are currently used in the preparation of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), a new-generation membrane for purification applications of great interest to chemical engineering processes. These MMS have been proved effective for ethanol recovery and dehydration [482,483], EOs and aroma compound recovery [484,485], azeotropic separation of organic mixtures [486], among others. In this respect, membranes based on chitosan, cellulose acetate, sodium alginate, PLA, and PVA have served as support materials for membranes for pervaporation, alone or including different types of nanoparticles such as Au, Cu, and Ag as well as zeolites and carbon nanotubes [482,483,487,488].…”