New milestone in sustainable biopolymer membranes for selective CO₂ separation
A team of researchers from the MECANOS (Membranes and Catalysis with Nanostructured Materials) group at the Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA, a joint CSIC-UNIZAR institute) has published a pioneering study entitled ‘Innovative starch-PVA membranes incorporating amino-functionalised Zeolitic Imidazolate frameworks for CO₂/CH₄ separation’. This research, carried out by researchers Dalia Refaat, Jacking Amenakpor, Joaquín Coronas and Beatriz Zornoza, presents a new generation of sustainable mixed membranes made from starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which incorporate zeolitic imidazolate (ZIF) structures functionalised with amino groups to optimise the separation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄). ZIFs, a subfamily of MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) —recognised with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry— offer a unique ability to capture gases, marking a step forward towards cleaner and more efficient technologies.
The study, led by Dr Beatriz Zornoza, Ramón y Cajal researcher at the University of Zaragoza, is part of a line of work on the development of highly sustainable biopolymer membranes, aimed at combining renewable materials with nanostructured porous compounds that improve the efficiency of gas purification processes and help reduce environmental impact. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of these amino-functionalised fillers into biopolymer matrix membranes promotes better selective transport of CO₂.
In addition, this work involves the participation of a student from the first cohort of the Erasmus Mundus Master’s Degree in Membrane Engineering for Sustainable Development, taught at the University of Zaragoza since the 2023-24 academic year, reflecting the group’s commitment to international training and the promotion of young talent.
The article has been published in Separation and Purification Technology, one of the most internationally influential journals in chemical engineering and materials science, underscoring the quality and scientific relevance of the research.
Link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.135596
Open Access; Available online 15 October 2025
Separation and Purification Technology, Volume 382, Part 1, 26 February 2026, 135596
This work reinforces the leadership of INMA, accredited as a Severo Ochoa centre of excellence, in research into advanced materials for energy transition and sustainability, and specifically contributes to priority line RAL1.1 ‘High-performance molecular separation devices for CO2 capture’.
