Characterization of Nanocellulose based Facilitated transport membranes for post combustion carbon capture

This study explores the potential of nanocellulose fiber (NFC) membranes for CO₂ capture applications. Three types of membranes were evaluated: pure NFC, L-Arginine-modified NFC (designed to enhance CO₂ facilitated transport), and carboxymethylated NFC (possessing a higher concentration of active sites). The membranes were prepared by casting and subsequently characterized for their gas permeability and selectivity towards CO₂ and N₂ at different temperatures (25°C, 35°C and 50°C) and humidity levels (50% to 93%). The experimental results align with established literature, confirming the low permeability of all tested membranes towards N₂ and their permeability towards CO₂. Notably, the permeability of all membranes increased with increasing humidity. Importantly, the L-Arginine-modified and carboxymethylated NFC membranes exhibited superior permeability and selectivity compared to the pure NFC membranes. These findings support the potential application of NFC-based membranes for CO₂ separation from flue gases, offering a promising avenue for further research and development in the field of sustainable carbon capture technologies.