Exploring the effect of iron metal-organic framework particles in polylactic acid membranes for the azeotropic separation of organic/organic mixtures by pervaporation

Asma Msahel, Francesco Galiano, Martina Pilloni, Francesca Russo, Amor Hafiane, Roberto Castro-Muñoz, Vijay Bhooshan Kumar, Aharon Gedanken, Guido Ennas, Ze’ev Porat, Alessandra Scano, Sofiane Ben Hamouda, Alberto Figoli

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    42 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    A microporous carboxylate metal-organic framework MIL-100 Fe was prepared as submicron particles by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis (Fe-MOF-MW). This product was explored, for the first time, for the preparation of polylactic acid (PLA) mixed matrix membranes. The produced MOF was characterised by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) as well as by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption. The effect of different Fe-MOF-MW concentrations (0.1 and 0.5 wt%) on the membrane properties and performance were evaluated. These membranes were used in the pervaporation process for the separation of methanol/methyl tert-butyl-ether mixtures at the azeotropic point. The influence of the feed temperature and vacuum pressure on the membrane performance was evaluated and the results were compared with PLA pristine membranes. Moreover, the produced membranes have been characterised in terms of morphology, MOF dispersion in the polymeric membrane matrix, wettability, thickness, mechanical resistance and swelling propensity. The presence of Fe-MOF-MW was found to have a beneficial effect in improving the selectivity of mixed matrix membranes towards methanol at both concentrations. The highest selectivity was obtained for the PLA membranes embedded with 0.5 wt% of Fe-MOF-MW and tested at the temperature of 25 °C and vacuum pressure of 0.09 mbar.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number65
    Pages (from-to)1-18
    Number of pages18
    JournalMembranes
    Volume11
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Jan 2021

    Keywords

    • Iron metal organic-framework
    • MOF
    • Methanol
    • Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)
    • Organic-organic separation
    • Pervaporation
    • Polylactic acid (PLA)

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
    • Process Chemistry and Technology
    • Filtration and Separation

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