Natural gas is cleaner and safer than traditionally used energy sources and is an important transitional energy source; however, improvements in the efficiency and cost of purification are needed [1]. Nanocomposite membranes consisting of a bulk polymer phase and dispersed selective phase can improve gas selectivity compared to pure polymer membranes while avoiding the high costs of inorganic membranes. However, poor adhesion between the two phases leads to nonselective pathways for gas transport. Functionalization of the zeolite with MgOxHyinorganic surface nanostructures has been shown to eliminate or minimize the gap [2].Four methods of inorganic surface roughening have been completed on aluminosilicate zeolite-LTA and characterized using HRTEM and nitrogen physisorption [3]. In this work, we show how these nanostructures impact properties of polyimide nanocomposite membranes including CO2/CH4 gas selectivity, nanoindentation mechanical properties, and phase compatibility by TEM imaging of cross sections. We show that all composite membranes show improved mechanical and gas separation properties compared to pure polymer, but one method, ion-exchange induced surface deposition, shows significantly improved mechanical and separation properties.Burnett, W. M.; Ban, S. D. Science. 1989  , 244, 305�310.Shu, S.; Husain, S.; Koros, W. J. J. Phys. Chem. C.  2007  , 111, 652�657.Lydon, M. E.; Unocic, K. A.; Bae, T.; Jones, C. W.; Nair, S. J. Phys .Chem. C.  2012  , 116, 9636�9645.

Impact of zeolite LTA functionalization on polyimide nanocomposite membrane properties for use in natural gas separations

245th National Meeting (2013)

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