Novel mixed matrix membranes for sulfur removal and for fuel cell applications

Sulfur removal is significant for fuels used as hydrogen source for fuel cell applications and to avoid sulfur poisoning of therein used catalysts. Novel mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with well-defined transport channels are proposed for sulfur removal. MMMs are fabricated using polyimide (PI) as matrix material and Y zeolites as adsorptive functional materials. The influence of architecture conditions on the morphology transition from finger-like to sponge-like structure and the “short circuit” effect are investigated. The adsorption and regeneration behavior of MMMs is discussed, combining the detailed analysis of FT-IR, morphology, XPS, XRD and thermal properties of MMMs, the process-structure-function relationship is obtained. The results show that the functional zeolites are incorporated into three-dimensional network and the adsorption capacity of MMMs comes to 8.6 and 9.5 mg S g−1 for thiophene and dibenzothiophene species, respectively. And the regeneration behavior suggests that the spent membranes can recover about 88% and 96% of the desulfurization capacity by solvent washing and thermal treating regeneration, respectively. The related discussions provide some general suggestions in promoting the novel application of MMMs on the separation of organic–organic mixtures, and a potential alternative for the production of sulfur-free hydrogen source for fuel cell applications. [Display omitted] Well-defined transport channels are significant for effective desulfuration of MMMs, which adsorption behavior is markedly related with the “short circuit” effect and the morphology transition from finger-like to sponge-like structure. ▸ Membranes are proposed for sulfur-free hydrogen source of fuel cell. ▸ Membrane performance is markedly related with three-dimensional transport channels. ▸ Two regeneration modes are proposed for separation of organic mixtures by MMMs.