Synergistic effect of filler sieving and polymer rigidification for selective C2H4/C2H6 separation

IF 9 1区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Separation and Purification Technology Pub Date : 2026-06-19 Epub Date: 2026-02-07 DOI:10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137196

Linxuan Han, Yutao Liu, Dongxiao Yang, Jian Tan, Chao Zhi, Yang Chen, Jinping Li, Libo Li

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Membrane separation technology on account of low energy consumption shows great potential for energy-intensive C₂H₄/C₂H₆ separation. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), fabricated by embedding sieving functional fillers within polymer, are expected to improve the separation performance of conventional polymer. However, most MMMs fail to deliver the anticipated gains in C₂H₄/C₂H₆ separation selectivity. Sieving fillers typically have ultra-small pores that may impose higher entry barriers on polarizable hydrocarbons than the dynamic free-volume elements of polymers. Thus, focus should extend beyond the filler itself to the structural variations of the polymer matrix upon filler incorporation. In this work, we incorporated an C₂H₄/C₂H₆ sieving metal-organic framework material, Cu(BF₄)₂(4-DPDS)₂, into 6FDA-DAM to fabricate MMMs for C₂H₄/C₂H₆ separation. It is found that the size sieving ability of Cu(BF₄)₂(4-DPDS)₂ contributes partially to the improved C₂H₄/C₂H₆ diffusion selectivity. Additionally, the rigidification of 6FDA-DAM molecular chains induced by the strong interfacial interaction markedly hinders C₂H₆ transport. These two factors act synergistically to effectively enhance the C₂H₄/C₂H₆ diffusion selectivity. For an equimolar gas mixture, the filler-optimized MMMs exhibit a C₂H₄ permeability of 13.35 barrer and a C₂H₄/C₂H₆ selectivity of 7.02, exceeding the separation upper bound reported in 2013 and representing the highest selectivity reported for sieving-filler-based MMMs. This work provides valuable insights for the rational design of high-performance MMMs for ethylene/ethane separation.

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填料筛分和聚合物固化对C2H4/C2H6选择性分离的协同作用

膜分离技术由于能耗低，在高耗能的C2H4/C2H6分离中显示出巨大的潜力。混合基质膜（MMMs）是通过在聚合物中嵌入筛分功能填料来制备的，有望改善传统聚合物的分离性能。然而，大多数mm无法提供C2H4/C2H6分离选择性的预期增益。筛分填料通常具有超小的孔隙，与聚合物的动态自由体积元素相比，可能对极化碳氢化合物施加更高的进入障碍。因此，重点应超越填料本身延伸到填料掺入后聚合物基体的结构变化。在这项工作中，我们将C2H4/C2H6筛选金属有机骨架材料Cu(BF4)2(4-DPDS)2加入到6FDA-DAM中，制备了用于C2H4/C2H6分离的MMMs。结果表明，Cu(BF4)2(4-DPDS)2的筛分能力是提高C2H4/C2H6扩散选择性的部分原因。此外，强界面相互作用诱导的6FDA-DAM分子链硬化明显阻碍了C2H6的转运。这两个因素协同作用，有效提高了C2H4/C2H6的扩散选择性。对于等摩尔气体混合物，填料优化的MMMs的C2H4渗透率为13.35，C2H4/C2H6选择性为7.02，超过了2013年报道的分离上限，代表了基于筛分填料的MMMs的最高选择性。这项工作为合理设计用于乙烯/乙烷分离的高性能mm材料提供了有价值的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Separation and Purification Technology 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

14.00

自引率

12.80%

发文量

2347

审稿时长

43 days

期刊介绍： Separation and Purification Technology is a premier journal committed to sharing innovative methods for separation and purification in chemical and environmental engineering, encompassing both homogeneous solutions and heterogeneous mixtures. Our scope includes the separation and/or purification of liquids, vapors, and gases, as well as carbon capture and separation techniques. However, it's important to note that methods solely intended for analytical purposes are not within the scope of the journal. Additionally, disciplines such as soil science, polymer science, and metallurgy fall outside the purview of Separation and Purification Technology. Join us in advancing the field of separation and purification methods for sustainable solutions in chemical and environmental engineering.