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

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(2)O and CO(2) sorption of the PAMAM/PVA hybrid membranes were investigated to explain the obtained CO(2) separation efficiencies.