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Synthesis and Evaluation of Alumina Nanocomposite Membranes for Gas Separation

Farrokhnia, Mohammad Reza | 2014

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 46379 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Safekordi, Aliakbar; Rashidzadeh, Mehdi; Khanbabaei, Ghader; Rahimpour, Mohammad Reza
  7. Abstract:
  8. Membrane processes are accounted as the newest technology for gas separation and nowadays are more applicable in different petroleum, gas and petrochemical industries because of abundant advantages. One of important application of membrane gas separation technology is syngas adjustment and hydrogen enrichment. In this research, the appropriate alumina nanocomposite membranes for this purpose are prepared and their gas separation performance is investigated. Therefore the mixed matrix membranes, containing the continues polymeric phase polyethersulfone and dispersed phase alumina nanoparticles is synthesized by using methods of experimental design. As the best of our knowledge, there is no report within the literature applying the alumina nanoparticles in nanocomposite membranes for gas separation, therefore synthesis of alumina nanocomposite membranes and evaluating different phases of alumina nanoparticles are some novelties of this study. Effective factors for fabricating nanocomposite membranes are specified with help of Placket Berman experimental design. Then effective factors, comprising polymer concentration, nanoparticles concentration and alumina nanoparticles phase are optimized by using Response Surface Method experimental design to obtain the best membrane performance of permeability and selectivity for syngas adjustment and hydrogen separation application. Different alumina phases and prepared nanocomposite membranes are characterized and evaluated accurately using usual tests such as Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscope, X-ray Diffraction, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Surface Analysis and Tensile Resistance. Membranes performance for gas separation, Hydrogen enrichment and syngas adjustment are investigated using own-made unit. The optimum alumina nanocomposite membrane, with Hydrogen over Carbon monoxide selectivity of 41, could adjust syngas ratio from 4.4 to 1.9 in retentate stream and enrich Hydrogen purity in permeation stream to 99.45 percent
  9. Keywords:
  10. Gases Separation ; Hydrogen Producing ; Alumina Nanoparticles ; Nanocomposite Membrane ; Mixed-Matrix Membrane ; Polyether Sulfone ; Syngas Adjustment

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