Abstract
An absolutely novel membrane of Poly (vinylchloride-co-vinylacetate) (PVCA) copolymer and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with five different ratios were fabricated and used for further characterizations. Dense membranes of 50 μm were synthesized with ratios of PDMS and PVCA 99:1, 98:2, 97:3, 96:4 and 95:5 respectively. The separation performance is characterized by permeation studies of pure gases CO2, N2 and CH4 at two different temperatures i.e. 25 °C and 75 °C and pressure of 10 psi. The ratio of PDMS:PVCA (96:4) showed the maximum ideal selectivity of (21.1) and permeability (5595 barrer) at 25 °C for CO2/N2 and CO2 respectively. Further studies reveal that at a temperature of 25 OC membranes had high flux and higher selectivity. As the temperature was increased up to 75 OC the membranes showed the reverse behavior. Further it was found that addition of PVCA also improved the mechanical and thermal stability by 23.56% and 6.45% respectively.
•Synthesis of PDMS/PVCA dense membranes.•Gas Permeability of modified membrane are tested at Gas permeation unit.•N2, CH4 and CO2 permeability investigated and results were compared.•Two different temperatures (25 °C & 75 °C) are used for the investigation of gas permeability and ideal selectivity.