Enhanced Gas Separation Prowess Using Functionalized Lignin-Free Lignocellulosic Biomass/Polysulfone Composite Membranes

Delignified lignocellulosic biomass was functionalized with amine groups. Then, the pretreated lignin-free date pits cellulose and the amine-functionalized-date pits cellulose (0–5 wt%) were incorporated into a polysulfone polymer matrix to fabricate composite membranes. The amine groups give additional hydrogen bonding to those existing from the hydroxyl groups in the date pits cellulose. The approach gives an efficient avenue to enhance the CO2 molecules’ transport pathways through the membrane matrix. The interactions between phases were investigated via Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whereas pure gases (CO2 and N2) were used to evaluate the gas separation performances. Additionally, the thermal and mechanical properties of the fabricated composites were tested. The pure polysulfone membrane achieved an optimum separation performance at 4 Bar. The optimum separation performance for the composite membranes is achieved at 2 wt%. About 32% and 33% increments of the ideal CO2/N2 selectivity is achieved for the lignin-free date pits cellulose composite membrane and the amine-functionalized-date pits cellulose composite membrane, respectively.