Membrane technology can be considered as a sustainable separation process according to Process Intensification (PI) Strategy. In fact, it offer several advantages such as the possibility of integration with conventional technologies, low cost and energy reduction, safety and flexible scaling up [1]. However,the production of membranes via phase inversion, requires the use of toxic solvents and fossil-based polymers [2], which may have a significant negative environmental impact. In the present work, new sustainable materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA) as a biopolymer and methyl 5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5oxopentanoate (Polarclean®) as new eco-friendly solvent,have been studied. In particular, membranes with two different structures (porous and dense) were prepared. The morphology, pore-size, mechanical properties and performance of the produced membranes, was then evaluated. A) PLA dense membranes The preparation and the characterisation of PLA dense membranes to be used in gas separation [3]was studied. Membranes were prepared by solvent evaporation-induced phase separation(EIPS). The effect biopolymer concentration and dissolution temperature on membrane properties, were investigated. The experiments in gas separation were realized under optimal conditions and the solution diffusion transport occurred.The experimental tests were carried out for single gases (He, H2, CO2, CH4). Permeance and permeability were calculated and the results showed that the membrane gave the best performance in terms ofCO2/CH4selectivity (250). TheCO2, CH4and other gases (permeability/selectivity) were plottedaccording to Robeson upper-bound [4]. B) PLA porous membrane using an eco-friendly solvent The porous PLA membranes were prepared using Polarclean® [5] as an eco-friendly solvent which demonstrated to be able to replace the most common traditional solvents generally applied in membrane preparation. Aim of this work was to produce totally sustainable porous membranes (having pore size in the microfiltration range) by vapourinducedphase separation (VIPS) technique followed by immersion in a nonsolvent coagulation bath (NIPS). Preliminary water permeability tests were performed on the prepared membranes in order to evaluate their performances and their stability in time.
Innovative materials for membrane-based Green Chemistry development
Russo F;Galiano F;Marino T;Iulianelli A;Basile A;Figoli A
2018
Abstract
Membrane technology can be considered as a sustainable separation process according to Process Intensification (PI) Strategy. In fact, it offer several advantages such as the possibility of integration with conventional technologies, low cost and energy reduction, safety and flexible scaling up [1]. However,the production of membranes via phase inversion, requires the use of toxic solvents and fossil-based polymers [2], which may have a significant negative environmental impact. In the present work, new sustainable materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA) as a biopolymer and methyl 5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5oxopentanoate (Polarclean®) as new eco-friendly solvent,have been studied. In particular, membranes with two different structures (porous and dense) were prepared. The morphology, pore-size, mechanical properties and performance of the produced membranes, was then evaluated. A) PLA dense membranes The preparation and the characterisation of PLA dense membranes to be used in gas separation [3]was studied. Membranes were prepared by solvent evaporation-induced phase separation(EIPS). The effect biopolymer concentration and dissolution temperature on membrane properties, were investigated. The experiments in gas separation were realized under optimal conditions and the solution diffusion transport occurred.The experimental tests were carried out for single gases (He, H2, CO2, CH4). Permeance and permeability were calculated and the results showed that the membrane gave the best performance in terms ofCO2/CH4selectivity (250). TheCO2, CH4and other gases (permeability/selectivity) were plottedaccording to Robeson upper-bound [4]. B) PLA porous membrane using an eco-friendly solvent The porous PLA membranes were prepared using Polarclean® [5] as an eco-friendly solvent which demonstrated to be able to replace the most common traditional solvents generally applied in membrane preparation. Aim of this work was to produce totally sustainable porous membranes (having pore size in the microfiltration range) by vapourinducedphase separation (VIPS) technique followed by immersion in a nonsolvent coagulation bath (NIPS). Preliminary water permeability tests were performed on the prepared membranes in order to evaluate their performances and their stability in time.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
