The effect of selective layer thickness and coating resistance on gas transport properties of PEBAX/PES composite membranes

Abstract

In this study, PEBAX/PES composite membranes were prepared by coating the porous PES support layer by PEBAX-1657. SEM images were used to determine the structure of the membranes. CH4 and CO2 gases were used to measure the selectivity and permeance of membranes. Three resistance involving selective layer, middle layer and porous layer was studied. In middle layer, PEBAX diluted solution penetrate into the pores on support layer surface. The obtained results showed that the resistance of porous layer was negligible but the middle layer resistance (that in this study called coating resistance) was very important. The amount of coating resistance in testing samples was even greater than the resistance of PEBAX selective layer.