Effect of Cross-Linking on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hybrid Membranes for CO ₂ Separation

Abstract

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were incorporated into cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix to improve carbon dioxide (CO ₂) separation performance at elevated pressures. In our previous studies, PAMAM/PVA hybrid membranes showed high CO ₂ separation properties from CO ₂/H ₂ mixed gases. In this study, three types of organic Ti metal compounds were selected as PVA cross-linkers that were used to prepare PAMAM/cross-linked PVA hybrid membranes. Characterization of the PAMAM/cross-linked PVA hybrid membranes was conducted using nanoindentation and thermogravimetric analyses. The effects of the cross-linker and CO ₂ partial pressure in the feed gas on CO ₂ separation performance were discussed. H ₂O and CO ₂ sorption of the PAMAM/PVA hybrid membranes were investigated to explain the obtained CO ₂ separation efficiencies.