Facile and green synthesis of disordered mesoporous silica as biogenic filler for mixed-matrix membranes

Wahyu Kamal Setiawan a,b, Kung-Yuh Chiang b,*
a Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Universitas Internasional Semen Indonesia, Indonesia, SIG Industrial Complex, Veteran Street, Gresik, East Java, 61122,
Indonesia
b Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Central University, Taiwan, No. 300, Chung-Da Road., Chung-Li District, Tao-Yuan City, 32001, Taiwan

Abstract

Disordered mesoporous silica particles (MSNs) were successfully synthesized using facile sol-gel using rice husk as a silica precursor and water-soluble polymers as structure-directing agents (SDAs) under acidic conditions of gluconic acid solutions. The influence of polyvinyl alcohol/PVA, polyvinylpyrrolidone/PVP, and soluble starch on the textural properties and morphologies were studied. Besides, the impact of MSNs with considerable properties on the CO2/N2 separation performance of poly(ether-block-amide) or Pebax membranes was also investigated. SDAs could generally double the specific surface area of the original sample up to 400–600 m2/g, except PVP/starch and PVA/PVP. In addition, PVP governed spherical shape, while its combination with PVA established excellent particle size distribution (100–200 nm). MSNs prepared using PVA/PVP were even considered to upgrade Pebax membrane’s CO2/N2 separation performance. CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity were enhanced up to 58% and 21%, respectively, compared to pure Pebax membranes. This finding will be promising for encouraging sustainable filler development for membrane technology.

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