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Enhancing the CO2/CH4 Separation Properties of Cellulose Acetate Membranes Using Polyethylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acrylate Radiation Grafting

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Abstract

Polymer-based membrane separation technology is gaining popularity due to its cost-effectiveness and operational simplicity. Cellulose acetate (CA) stands out as an attractive biobased polymer for membrane applications due to its remarkable mechanical properties and ease of manufacturing. To improve the selectivity of CA-based membranes for carbon dioxide (CO2) separation, the incorporation of polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA), known for its CO2 absorption properties, has emerged as a promising approach for creating high-performance membrane materials with low operating pressure. This study provides insight into the production of PEGMEA-grafted CA membranes via gamma radiation and their performance for CO2/CH4 gas separation. CO2 permeation of the obtained CA-PEGMEA membranes was successfully improved and achieved the desired selectivity for CO2/CH4 separation. A comprehensive study of the membrane properties was conducted, encompassing structural characterization, surface analysis, permeability, selectivity, thermal analysis, and crystallinity, which are essential for understanding and assessing the membrane’s performance. This work emphasizes gamma radiation graft polymerization and shows its applicability for high-performance gas separation membrane materials.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by IAEA CRP22072 Research Contract No. 23577. The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Muhamad Yasin YBIC for his assistance with gamma irradiation at the Research Center for Radiation Process Technology (PRTPR-ORTN), BRIN, Jakarta, Indonesia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Serang Raya, Jl. Serang-Cilegon Km.5, Drangong, 42162, Indonesia

    Arifina Febriasari

  2. Research Center for Radiation Process Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, BRIN, Jl. Lebak Bulus Raya No. 49, Jakarta, 12440, Indonesia

    Meri Suhartini,  Rahmawati, Niken H. Anggarini & Ade L. Yunus

  3. Center for Research and Development in Oil and Gas Technology, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Cipulir, Indonesia

    Baity Hotimah

  4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Pertamina University, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Rika F. Hermana

  5. Research Center for Nuclear Beam Analysis, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, BRIN, Puspitek-Serpong, Indonesia

    Deswita

  6. Macromolecular Chemistry and New Polymeric Materials, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Fitrilia Silvianti, Dina Maniar & Katja Loos

  7. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI, Depok, 16424, Indonesia

    Aliya Fahira, Irma P. Permatasari & Sutrasno Kartohardjono

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  1. Arifina Febriasari
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  2. Meri Suhartini
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Contributions

MS: Funding acquisition, conducted the main idea of the research. AF(1) and MS: wrote the original draft of the manuscript and data processing. RFH: synthesis and degree of grafting test. ALY: DSC analysis and interpretatation. AF(1), AF(7). and IPP: membrane performance test. Rahmawati: XRD analysis, interpretation and reviewed the manuscript. Deswita and NHA: SEM analysis and interpretation. SK: data interpretation and reviewed the manuscript. FS, DN, and KL: NMR and AFM analysis and reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Meri Suhartini.

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Febriasari, A., Suhartini, M., Rahmawati et al. Enhancing the CO2/CH4 Separation Properties of Cellulose Acetate Membranes Using Polyethylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acrylate Radiation Grafting. J Polym Environ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-024-03273-x

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