Preparation and Characterization of Free-Standing Composite Cellulose-Based Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes

Carbon membranes with excellent strength and mechanical stability were prepared using a cellulose precursor regenerated from an ionic liquid solution with a low loading of boehmite ceramic nanoparticles, ca. 0.1 wt. %. The precursor films show an asymmetrical structure while, after carbonization, the corresponding carbon molecular sieve membranes (c-CMSM) show a dense structure with a uniform thickness of ca. 22 µm. The c-CMSM exhibited excellent separation performance, well above the Robeson Upper Bound. The permeability of the c-CMSM to hydrogen increased from 300 to 530 barrer and the H2/CH4 permselectivity increased to 473, after adding boehmite nanoparticles. Boehmite nanoparticles act as a microporosity-forming agent without compromising the width of the ultramicropores. The prepared c-CMSM is extremely promising for several applications, namely for hydrogen recovery from methane – H2/CH4 (Robeson index:θ=13.5); biogas upgrading – CO2/CH4 (θ=6.5); CO2 removal from combustion flue gas – CO2/N2 (θ=1.7); and hydrogen recovery from ammonia processes – H2/N2 (θ=4.8).