The so-called Graftfast reaction in water and at room temperature (RT) was applied to graft polyethylene glycol (PEG) at the surface of the microporous zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs) using acrylPEG of different chain lengths (480 Da and 5 kDa). In comparison to nonmodified ZIF-8 NPs, both chemical and colloidal stabilities of PEGylated ZIF-8 NPs are significantly enhanced in water. A series of colloidal complex fluids by mixing PEG grafted ZIF-8 (i.e., PEG-g-ZIF-8) NPs with different amounts of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was prepared and characterized by advanced characterization tools such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) thereby showing their long-term colloidal stability. Finally, dense and supported mixed matrix membranes were cast from PEG-g-ZIF-8/PVA solutions and have shown high performance in isopropanol (IPA) dehydration by pervaporation. The permeation flux of the supported MMM (i.e., 0.091 kg/(m2·h)) is 11 times higher than that of the pure PVA membrane and these MMMs present a high separation factor (i.e., 7326). These transport properties are presumably due to the molecular sieving effects induced by ZIF-8 and the good interfacial properties of the membrane. The computational exploration of the ZIF-8/PVA and PEG/PVA interfaces provides a microscopic scale explanation for the enhanced compatibility of PVA with the PEGylated MOF when compared to that for the composite based on the bare ZIF-8 as a filler.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6629-6639
JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
Volume7
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2019

    Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

    Research areas

  • MOFs, Membranes, Pervaporation, Poly(vinyl alcohol), Surface modification

ID: 45516186