Fabrication and enhancement of gas separation of Cellulose acetate film
by blending technique with palladium acetate
Abstract
Herein, we demonstrate successful fabrication of cellulose acetate
(CA)/(PdOAc)2 blend membranes for the gas-permeation performance of H2,
CO2, and CH4 gases. Pristine CA and CA/(PdOAc)2 blend membranes with
various concentrations (0.5, 0.75 and 1 wt %) of (PdOAc)2 were prepared
via vapor induced phase separation (VIPS) method. The membranes were
investigated through various techniques such as ATR-IR spectroscopy to
study the interaction between the CA and (PdOAc)2. Followed by
morphological study by FESEM which showcased homogeneous blending
between CA and (PdOAc)2. XRD patterns revealed the characteristic peaks
denoting (PdOAc)2 and the change in crystallinity of the membranes upon
blending. The alteration in mechanical strength of the blends due to
incorporation of (PdOAc)2 into CA matrix was deliberated by tensile
strength analysis. Gas experiments showcased permeability in the
descending order of H2>CO2>CH4, with a
selectivity of 2.02, 68.5 and 34 for H2/CO2, H2/CH4 and CO2/CH4
separation respectively for the optimum membrane.