Permselectivity of cellulose acetate membranes; separation of H2/CO mixtures and the effect of added transition metals

Abstract Cellulose acetate membranes permit permeation of H2 and CO2 but are relatively impervious to CO and N2. Permselectivity was demonstrated by effective separation of H2 from its mixtures with CO. The presence of RuCl3 in the membrane does not result in any appreciable change in permselectivity. The exposure of RuCl3‐ and RhCl3‐modified membranes to H2/CO mixtures results in the formation of RuCl2(CO)x and [RhCl(CO)2]2, respectively. However, these complexes are not covalently anchored to the cellulose acetate matrix and apparently function only as additives that block access to the press and channels in the cellulose acetate membrane.