• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2018

In this study, PDMS-HNT and PDMS-mHNT composite membranes were prepared by the addition of halloysite nanotube (HNT) and modified HNT (mHNT) to PDMS. To investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of composite membranes, analytical methods such as FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and SEM were utilized. The gas permeability and selectivity properties of $N_2$ and $CO_2$ were evaluated. In particular, the PDMS-HNT with 10 wt% HNT and PDMS-mHNT with 5 wt% mHNT showed the highest $CO_2/N_2$ selectivity and $CO_2$ permeability at $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. Overall, PDMS-HNT and PDMS-mHNT composite membranes improved the $CO_2/N_2$ selectivity compared to that of using PDMS membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1995

For several years lots of attempts have been made to establish the liquid membrane-based techniques for separations of gas mixtures especially containing carbon dioxide. A more effective system to separate $CO_{2}$ from flue gases, a circulatory hollow-fiber membrane absorber(HFMA) consisting of absorption and desorption modules with vacuum mode, has been considered in this study. Gas-liquid mass transfer has been modeled on a membrane module with non-wetted hollow-fibers in the laminar flow regime. The influence of an absorbent flow rate on the separation performance of the circulatory HFMA can be predicted quantitatively by obtaining the $CO_{2}$ concentration profile in a tube side. The system of $CO_{2}/N_{2}$ binary gas mixture has been studied using pure water as an(inert) absorbent. As the absorbent flow rate is increased, the permeation flux(i.e., defined as permeation rate/membrane contact area) also increases. The enhanced selectivity compared to the previous results, on the other hand, shows the decreasing behavior. It has been found obviously that the permeation flux depends on the variations of pressure in gas phase of desorption module. From an accurate comparison with the results of conventional flat sheet membrane module, the advantageous permeability of this circulatory HFMA can be clearly ascertained as expected. Our efforts to the theoretical model will provide the basic analysis on the circulatory HFMA technique for a better design and process.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2013

Polyancrylonitrile nanofiber membrane (PAM) was prepared by using the electrospinning method with a solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in DMF. The pore-diameter of PAMs and the number of PAM's layer were controlled for the microfiltration (MF) application. In addition, in order to improve the water-flux, AN-PEGMA copolymers have been synthesized via free radical polymerization with poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and azobisisobutylronitrile (AIBN), and then PAN/AN-PEGMA nanofiber membranes (PAM/APM) were prepared by electrospinning with a mixture of PAN (9 wt%) and AN-PEGMA (3 wt%) in DMF (88 wt%). The prepared membranes were investigated with FT-IR and E.D.S. It was confirmed through scanning electron microscope (SEM), porometer, and porosity analysis that the porous membrane with a uniform diameter (400~600 nm) and a uniform pore characteristics (0.5~0.4 ${\mu}m$) was prepared. For the MF application, water-flux measurements were investigated and then the result was shown that the water permeability value of PAM/APMs introduced AN-PEGMA copolymers was relatively higher than that of the PVdF commercial membrane. From these results, PAN nanofiber membranes prepared by electrospinning could be utilized as a MF membrane.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1132-1141
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• 1996

Heterogeneous cation exchange membrane(HCEM) was prepared with LLDPE(Linear Low Density Poly-ethylene) as binder, powdered cation exchange resins($diameter{\leq}149{\mu}m$) as ion-exchange material and glycerol as additive for electrodialysis and electrodeionization system. The weight ratio of (binder/ion exchange)/glycerol was (60%/40%)/5%, (55%/45%)/5%, (50%/50%)/5% and (40%/60%)/5%. The characterization of prepared HCEM was evaluated on mechanical, electrochemical, morphology and ion permeable properties. It was compared with commercial membrane. Electrochemical properties of HCEM of (50%/50% )/5% were very similar to value of IONPURE(commercial membrane), in which ion exchange capacity, ion transfer number and membrane resistance were to be 1.733meq/g, 0.96 and $16.08{\Omega}/cm^2$, respectively. Ion permeability of the membrane was better than that of IONPURE membrane. Compared with IONPURE membrane, the HCEM had a higher tensile strength and lower elongation and modulus, in which HCEM had tensile strength of $62.33kg/cm^2$, elongation of 87.42% and modulus of $658.53kg/cm^2$. The HCEM of (50%/50% )15% was optimum combination.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.312-319
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• 2010

Carbon membrane materials have received considerable attention for the gas separation including hydrocarbon mixture of ingredients of the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) because they possess their higher selectivity, permeability, and thermal stability than the polymeric membranes. The use of activated carbon membranes makes it possible to separate continuously the VOCs mixture by the selective adsorption-diffusion mechanism which the condensable components are preferentially adsorbed in to the micropores of the membrane. The activated carbon hollow fiber membranes with uniform adsorptive micropores on the wall of open pores and the surface of the membranes have been fabricated by the carbonization of a thin film of phenolic resin deposited on porous alumina hollow fiber membrane. Oxidation, carbonization, and activation processing variables were controlled under different conditions in order to improve the separation characteristics of the activated carbon membrane. Properties of activated carbon hollow fiber membranes and the characterization of a gas permeation by pyrolysis conditions were studied. As the result, the activated carbon hollow fiber membranes with good separation capabilities by the molecular size mechanism as well as selective adsorption on the pores surface followed by surface diffusion effective in the recovery hydrocarbons have been obtained. Therefore, these activated carbon membranes prepared in this study are shown as promising candidate membrane for separation of VOCs.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.379-387
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• 2018

This study was conducted to improve the membrane characteristics and performance by increasing hydrophilicity by adding additives to the ultrafiltration polysulfone (PSf) hollow fiber membrane. The mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared by dispersing 15 nm of fumed silica (FS) in the spinning solution at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 wt%. SEM analysis was carried out to confirm the cross-section and surface condition. It was confirmed that mean pore radius of the hollow fiber increased by 4 nm as FS was added. In addition, contact angle measurement was carried out for the hydrophilicity analysis of hollow fiber membranes, and it was confirmed that the hydrophilicity of MMMs were increased by adding of FS. In the case of water permeability, the membrane including FS showed 91~96 LMH and showed 5~11% more increase than PSf membrane. In the antifouling performance test, relative flux reduction ratios of FS mixed hollow fiber membranes were lower than that of PSf membranes, and it was confirmed that increase of hydrophilicity hinders adsorption of hydrophobic BSA on the membrane surface.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.352-361
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• 2023

Steam methane reforming is currently the most widely used technology for producing hydrogen, a clean fuel. Hydrogen produced by steam methane reforming contains impurities such as carbon monoxide, and it is essential to undergo an appropriate post-purification step for commercial usage, such as fuel cells. Recently, membrane separation technology has been gaining great attention as an effective purification method; in this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using commercial polysulfone membranes for biogas upgrading to separate and recover hydrogen from a hydrogen/carbon monoxide gas mixture. Initially, we examined the physicochemical properties of the commercial membrane used. We then conducted performance evaluations of the commercial membrane module under various conditions using mixed gas, considering factors such as stage-cut and operating pressure. Finally, based on the evaluation results, we carried out simulations for process design. The maximum H₂ permeability and H₂/CO separation factor for the commercial membrane process were recorded at 361 GPU and 20.6, respectively. Additionally, the CO removal efficiency reached up to 94%, and the produced hydrogen concentration achieved a maximum of 99.1%.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2024

In this experiment, a Ti-based flat hydrogen separation membrane was designed and manufactured. In order to find a Ti-based hydrogen separation membrane of a new composition, the correlation between the physical-chemical properties and hydrogen permeability of various alloys was investigated. Based on this, two types of new alloy films (Ti_14.2Zr_66.4Ni_12.6Cu_6.8 (70 ㎛), Ti_17.3Zr_62.7Ni₂₀ (80 ㎛)) was designed and manufactured. The manufactured flat hydrogen separation membrane was tested for hydrogen permeation using mixed gas (H₂, N₂) and sweep gas (Ar) at 300~500℃ and 1~4 bar. The Ti_14.2Zr_66.4Ni_12.6Cu_6.8 alloy film has a maximum flux of 16.35 mL/cm² min at 500℃ and 4 bar, and the Ti_17.3Zr_62.7Ni₂₀ alloy film has a maximum flux of 10.28 mL/cm² min at 450℃ and 4 bar.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1998

Copolyimide membranes of different chemical structure based on pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)/methylendianiline(MDA) were prepared by varying their chemical compositions with adding meta-phenylendiamine (MPD), para- phenylendiamine (PPD), 2,4,6- trimethyl-1,3-phenylenediamine(TriMeMPD) as a co-monomer. The $N_2$ and $O_2$ permeation properties are qualitatively correlated to specific free volume and intersegmental distance of membrane. The partial replacement of MDA with MPD or PPD caused in the PMDA/MDA based membranes increase in density, and decrease in free volume, d-spacing, consequently resulted in decreased permeability coefficient. In the case of TriMeMPD, opposite results were observed. In all membranes, the permeability coefficients were pressure independent, and membranes which have high permeability coefficient showed low $N_2/O_2$ ideal separation factor as an usual manner. The permeability coefficient also increased with temperature and $N_2/O_2$ ideal separation factor decreased. The increase ratio of the $N_2$ permeability coefficient was larger than that of $O_2$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.362-366
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• 1999

Membranes for biosensor were prepared from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)l derivatives using the solution casting method, and their gas permeabilities were studied. The polymer membranes dried slowly in air showed higher permeability coefficients than those dried in vacuum. The permeabilily coefficients of carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC) membranes for $O_2$ and $CO_2$ decreased as the pressure of the feed gas increased. The addition of dioctylphthalate (DOP) enhanced the permeation rates for $O_2$ and $CO_2$. For example, the permeability coefficients of CPVC membranes containing 30 wt. % DOP for $O_2$ and $CO_2$ at 100 psig were 2.03 and 0.96 Barrer, respectively, which were about 4~5 times higher than those of the membranes without DOP. Poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol) (Syn-PVCAcAl) obtained by hydrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate (PVCA) showed a higher permeability coefficient for $CO_2$ in the presence of DOP than that for commercial PVCAcAl, but did not show any significant difference in permeability for $O_2$.