Term of Award

Spring 2016

Degree Name

Master of Science in Applied Engineering (M.S.A.E.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair

Mujibur Khan

Committee Member 1

Aniruddha Mitra

Committee Member 2

Guanghsu Chang

Committee Member 3

John Stone

Abstract

Crystalline particles known as Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) are known for their huge surface area and high adsorption capacity for CO2 gas. Electrospun nanofibers are considered as ideal substrates for synthesizing the MOF particles on the fiber surface. In this project, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a Cu-based MOF known as HKUST-1 were selected as substrate fibers and adsorbent particles respectively. Using sonochemical method, nanoscale HKUST-1 particles were synthesized and activated at high temperature for CO2 adsorption. A precursor solution of PAN polymer hybridized with HKUST-1 particles was made for eletrospinning. SEM images of the electrospun fibers showed small MOF particles formation into the fiber structure. A secondary solvothermal process of MOF particles growing on the fibers was then executed to increase the amount of MOF particles to produce an adsorption membrane. The secondary process consists of multiple growth cycles and SEM images showed uniform distribution of porous MOF particles on the fiber surface. Another approach of electrospraying HKUST-1 nanoparticles on the PAN fiber substrates was performed. A test bench for real-time gas adsorption analysis was built with Non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) CO2 sensors at the inlet and outlet. Comparative adsorption testing was performed with the produced membranes to analysis their CO2 adsorption performance. Thermogravitmetric analysis (TGA) of HKUST-1 loaded PAN fiber displayed thermal stability of the fiber membrane up to 250˚C. A comparative IR spectroscopic result between the gas-treated and gas-untreated fiber samples showed the presence of characteristic peak in the vicinity of 2300 and 2400cm-1 which corroborates the assertion of adsorption of CO2 on the system.

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