Synthesis of dual-functionalized APTES-Bentonite/PVDF mixed-matrix membranes for the efficient separation of CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2

In response to global climate change, most countries have set carbon reduction targets. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which combine the characteristics of inorganic nanofillers and organic matrices, have received wide attentions because of their good permeability and selective performance for the separation of CO 2 from industrial waste gases. However, the poor dispersion, compatibility and interfacial defects often lead to poor gas separation performance. In this paper, according to the dissolution-diffusion and Lewis acid-base theories, inorganic filler of amino-functionalized Bentonite (APTES-Bentonite) with -NH 2 was firstly synthesized to improve the affinity of CO 2 . Then, the dual-functionalized MMMs of APTES-Bentonite/PVDF (A-B/P MMMs) was prepared and adopted for the separation of CO 2 /CH 4 and CO 2 /N 2 , showing the increase of 87.76% and 75.31% compared to the pristine PVDF membrane, respectively. These excellent performances were attributed to the synergistic effect of APTES-Bentonite with -NH 2 groups and PVDF with -F groups, which provide a dual-functional transport pathway for CO 2 molecules due to the interactions of host-guest. Overall, the customized A-B/P MMMs offer superior CO 2 separation performance, which provides some valuable references for large-scale CO 2 capture studies.