DEVELOPMENT OF MESOPOROUS MEMBRANE MATERIALS FOR CO2 SEPARATION

The authors propose to use microporous silica as a suitable candidate for CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} separation because the pore size is less than 10 {angstrom}. If a CO{sub 2}adsorbent is added to the microporous silica, the adsorption of CO{sub 2} can block the passage of N{sub 2} and an effective CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} separator will be found. It was first demonstrated that microporous silica could be synthesized. The microporous silica was then impregnated with Ba(OH){sub 2}. The results of GC study showed that at temperatures between 50 C and 90 C, Ba-doped microporous silica can separate CO{sub 2} from N{sub 2} and the idea of a microporous membrane for CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} separation is feasible. The new result gives strong support to the proposed research that was outlined in the Phase II proposal. They hope to be able to continue the research and build an effective CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} membrane separator in the Phase II of this project