COF hybrid membrane with Ag+ anchored facilitated transport channel for aromatics and alkane pervaporation separation

Aromatic and alkane separation plays a vital role in naphtha steam cracking due to the low cracking reactivity of aromatic. Aromatic-friendly hybrid membrane-based pervaporation is recognized as an efficient separation technology attributed to its economy, simplicity, and eco-friendly. Thus, TpPa-SO 3 Ag, a two-dimension COF filler with great compatibility for Pebax, was designed with uniform anchoring of Ag + in pore, which was incorporated into Pebax to construct facilitated transport channel into Pebax-TpPa-SO 3 Ag membrane. By regulating TpPa-SO 3 Ag content, the optimal Pebax-TpPa-SO 3 Ag membrane (1.0 wt%) showed best pervaporation performance with permeation flux of 2.05 kg m −2  h −1 and separation factor of 6.26 over 168 h. Relying on the optimal formulation of flat sheet membrane, hollow fiber hybrid membrane was developed, whose permeation flux (0.43 kg m −2  h −1 ) and separation factor (7.25) was fully maintained during the 168 h continuous pervaporation process for toluene/ n -heptane mixture, opening an avenue for hollow fiber COF hybrid membrane-based pervaporation in the production of high-value petrochemical derivatives.