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Title: Monitoring multicomponent transport using in situ ATR FTIR spectroscopy

Journal Article · · Journal of Membrane Science
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL (United States)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Membranes are a critical component of many energy generation and storage technologies, including artificial photosynthesis systems that reduce atmospheric CO2 to high-value products. In this study, we used in situ ATR FTIR spectroscopy to monitor the crossover of three commonly-reported CO2 reduction products—methanol, sodium formate, and sodium acetate—through Nafion®117, a common cation exchange membrane. Measurement errors for the permeation of mixtures of solutes are discussed. Permeabilities from one-, two-, and three-solute mixed aqueous solutions were measured using a standard diffusion cell, and ATR FTIR spectra were used to obtain time-resolved concentration data that were fit to a model describing transport of ions and small molecules through hydrated polymer films. The permeability of Nafion®117 to methanol measured using this methodology was in agreement with literature reports. The sorption of methanol, sodium formate, and sodium acetate, and mixtures thereof, were measured using a desorption technique. From the measured permeabilities and solubilities, diffusivities of each solute were calculated. In conclusion, differences in permeability among the solutes were found to be primarily due to differences in their solubility in Nafion®117.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; SC000493
OSTI ID:
1477270
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1496311
Journal Information:
Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 550, Issue C; ISSN 0376-7388
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 39 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Effective reduction of graphene oxide using sulfur dioxide-containing chemical compounds journal May 2019

Figures / Tables (22)

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Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Permeability
Multicomponent transport
Artificial photosynthesis
In situ ATR FTIR spectroscopy