Ion-Exchange to enhance CH4/N2 separation in MS5A-ZIF-62 glass based mixed matrix membranes

Separation of CH 4 and N 2 from natural gas is essential to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. In this work, we prepared novel mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for CH 4 /N 2 separation using ion-exchange-modified molecular sieves as fillers and metal–organic framework (MOF) glass as substrates. The modification of molecular sieves enhanced the gas separation capability of the MMMs. And the MOF glass as a matrix has good compatibility with the filler. The membrane achieved a CH 4 permeance of up to 271.4 GPU and a CH 4 /N 2 selectivity of 7.35. The membrane was able to maintain stable separation performance under certain pressures and over a long testing period. The design of this study provides an innovative approach to advancing natural gas applications.