Rational Matching of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Polymers in Mixed Matrix Membranes for Efficient Propylene/Propane Separation.

The exploitation of high-performance membranes selective for propylene is important for developing energy-efficient propylene/propane (CH/CH) separation technologies. Although metal-organic frameworks with a molecular sieving property have been considered promising filler materials in mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), their use in practical applications has been challenging due to a lack of interface compatibility. Herein, we adopted a surface coordination strategy that involved rationally utilizing carboxyl-functionalized PIM-1 (cPIM) and ZIF-8 to prepare a mixed-matrix membrane for efficient propylene/propane separation.

Confined Ionic Liquid-Built Gas Transfer Pathways for Efficient Propylene/Propane Separation.

The separation of light olefins from paraffins using membrane technology is highly desired; however, synthetic polymer membranes generally suffer a pernicious trade-off between permeability and selectivity. Herein, we show that this limitation can be overcome by constructing selective gas transfer pathways in a polymer matrix, as demonstrated by incorporating composites of ionic liquids and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) to form mixed-matrix membranes. Using propylene/propane separation as a model system, dramatic improvements in the propylene permeability of 218.