An approach for evaluating gas sorption in polymer matrix membranes based on balancing incoming and outgoing membrane mass fluxes

Dr. Petr Uchytil

Membrane processes are currently among the promising separation procedures for the separation of gaseous mixtures because they are relatively simple and energy-efficient. Their advantage is also the possibility to optimize the separation process by using suitable membranes for the given mixture. This, on the other hand, requires testing the transport properties of a large number of membranes prepared from different materials when searching for suitable membranes. Therefore, the use of quality testing equipment that provides reliable and fast results is highly desirable.

Our group has been involved in testing the transport of gases through polymer membranes for a long time, several test apparatuses were designed and constructed at our institute. Current equipment used in foreign laboratories provides data on gas permeability and diffusivity but does not allow the determination of gas sorption in a given membrane. We are able to evaluate all these data necessary to describe gas transport through a polymer membrane from one experiment.

Our newly designed and constructed permeation apparatus, which is based on the simple idea that the difference between the flow of gas permeating into and out of the membrane corresponds to the sorbed gas in the membrane, allows the increase of the amount of gas sorbed in the membrane to be measured. This was made possible by the special design of the permeation cell, where the emphasis was placed on the size of the closable volumes above and below the membrane so that the amount of gas in the membrane was comparable to the amount of gas enclosed in these volumes.

We were pleased that our article was selected by the editor (Editor’s Choice Articles) as the July article of the month in the prestigious Journal of Membrane Science based on the reviewers’ comments.

• Setničková K.,* Jiřiště L., Malý M., Petričkovič R., Tseng H.-H., Uchytil P.*: An approach for evaluating gas sorption in polymer matrix membranes based on balancing incoming and outgoing membrane mass fluxes. Journal of Membrane Science 2022, 661(NOV 5), 120867. doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120867