Inorganic polymer membrane

Figure 3.2 Schematic diagram of spray forming of inorganic polymer membrane [McHugh and Key, 1994]...

The permeability data in Table 7.10 and other data show that the polarity of the substituent group on the polymer backbone (such as poly[bis(phenoxy)phosphazene] or PPOP) has a significant impact on the membrane permeability. The more polar gas (i.e. S02) the more easily it permeates a polar polymer (i.e., m-F-PPOP) and a less polar gas (i.e., CO2) exhibits a lower permeability through a more polar membrane (i.e., SO3-PPOP). This seems to provide a vast opportunity for chemically designing an inorganic polymer membrane for a particular separation application [Peterson et al., 1993]. 

Yang CC, Lue SJ, Shih JY (2011) A novel organic/inorganic polymer membrane based on... 

Yang, C.-C., Lue, S.J., and Shi, J.-Y. (2011) A novel organic/inorganic polymer membrane based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/ poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-l-propanesulfonic acid/3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane polymer electrolyte membrane for direct methanol fuel cells. /. Power Sources, 196, 4458-4467. 

Membranes UF membranes consist primarily of polymeric structures (polyethersulfone, regenerated cellulose, polysulfone, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, or various fluoropolymers) formed by immersion casting on a web or as a composite on a MF membrane. Hydrophobic polymers are surface-modified to render them hydrophilic and thereby reduce fouling, reduce product losses, and increase flux [Cabasso in Vltrafiltration Membranes and Applications, Cooper (ed.). Plenum Press, New York, 1980]. Some inorganic UF membranes (alumina, glass, zirconia) are available but only find use in corrosive applications due to their high cost. 

Basically, three kinds of membranes are being studied inorganic oxide membranes, polymer-based membranes, and metal and metal alloy membranes. Some combinations of these are also used, such as impregnating inorganic oxide membranes with catalytic materials. A key term in this held is permselective membrane, which is a thin material that can allow a certain component of a mixture, but not other components, to pass through (or permeate) from one side to the other. 

Bromley, KM., Patil, A.J., Seddon, A. M., Booth, P. and Mann, S. (2007) Bio-functional mesolamellar nanocomposite based on inorganic/ polymer intercalation in purple membrane (Bacteriorhodopsin) films. Advanced Materials, 19, 2433—2438. 

The PEMFCs require expensive polymer membrane (e.g., Nation ), and operate at a low temperature (e.g., 80°C). Although low temperature reduced the cost of material, the heat generated at low temperatures is more difficult to remove. Alternate proton conducting membranes (e.g., inorganic polymer composites) that will operate at a high temperature (e.g., 200°C) are required. The expensive platinum catalyst used for electrochemical reactions can be poisoned by even trace amounts of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen fuel stream. Hence, a more tolerant catalyst material needs to be developed. 

Herring, A. M. 2006. Inorganic-polymer composite membranes for PEMECs. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part C Polymer Reviews 46 245-296. 

Li, S., Zhou, Z., Abernathy, H., Liu, M., Li, W, Ukai, J., Hase, K. and Nakanishii, M. 2006. Synthesis and properties of phosphonic acid-grafted hybrid inorganic-organic polymer membranes. Journal of Materials Chemistry 16 858-864. 

The synthesis of 5 lan thick Ti02 Si02 layers on a porous support can be performed using the procedure given below. First a mixed Ti[(OMe)3]4 alkoxide is synthesized by reacting partially hydrolyzed Si(OMe)4 with Ti-isopropoxide. This inorganic polymer is hydrolyzed at pH 11.0 and treated with 2-methyl-2-4-pentanediol and a binder. This solution is then slip-cast onto a porous support, dried and calcined at 700°C. The membrane can be useful in reverse osmosis applications. 

Finally the synthesis of inorganic-polymer composite membranes should be mentioned. Several attempts have been made to combine the high permeability of inorganic membranes with the good selectivity of polymer membranes. Furneaux and Davidson (1987) coated a anodized alumina with polymer films. The permeability increased by a factor of 100, as compared to that in the polymer fiber, but the selectivities were low (H2/O2 = 4). Ansorge (1985) made a supported polymer film and coated this film with a thin silica layer. Surprisingly, the silica layer was found to be selective for the separation mixture He-CH4 with a separation factor of 5 towards CH4. The function of the polymer film is only to increase the permeability. No further data are given. 

This chapter provides a brief introduction to polymer and inorganic zeolite membranes and a comprehensive introduction to zeolite/polymer mixed-matrix membranes. It covers the materials, separation mechanism, methods, structures, properties and anticipated potential applications of the zeolite/polymer mixed-matrix membranes. 

Zeolite/polymer mixed-matrix membranes can be fabricated into dense film, asymmetric flat sheet, or asymmetric hollow fiber. Similar to commercial polymer membranes, mixed-matrix membranes need to have an asymmetric membrane geometry with a thin selective skin layer on a porous support layer to be commercially viable. The skin layer should be made from a zeohte/polymer mixed-matrix material to provide the membrane high selectivity, but the non-selective porous support layer can be made from the zeohte/polymer mixed-matrix material, a pure polymer membrane material, or an inorganic membrane material. 

Other inorganic polymers, such as silicones, have excellent optical and mechanical properties for optical membranes. A great number of easily handled commercial silicone prepolymers are available but they have some disadvantages towards other materials. The surface is not easily modifiable to covalently immobilize indicators, they are not suited to combine with the customarily used support structures, owing to hard adhesion, and they are bad solvents for most of the indicators. 

Although the literature of gas separation with microporous membranes is dominated by inorganic materials, polymer membranes have also been tried with some success. The polymers used are substituted polyacetylenes, which can have an extraordinarily high free volume, on the order of 25 vol %. The free volume is so high that the free volume elements in these polymers are probably interconnected. Membranes made from these polymers appear to function as finely microporous materials with pores in the 5 to 15 A diameter range [71,72], The two most... 

The already mentioned limited lateral dimensions of packing models of just several nm makes it impossible to simulate complete membranes or other polymer-based samples. Therefore, on the one hand, bulk models are considered that are typically cubic volume elements of a few nanometers side length that represent a part cut out of the interior of a polymer membrane (cf. Figure 1.1). On the other hand interface models are utilized, for example, for the interface between a liquid feed mixture and a membrane surface or between a membrane surface and an inorganic filler (cf. Figure 1.2). 

Figure 7.11 Dual-membrane separation utilizing a highly selective metal or inorganic membrane for H2 purification and a conventional polymer membrane for the CO2/N2 separation.

Recent developments in the cross-polymerization of the organic components used in bicontinuous microemulsions ensure the successful formation of transparent nanostruc-tured materials. Current research into using polymerizable bicontinuous microemulsions as a one-pot process for producing functional membranes and inorganic/polymer nanocomposites is highlighted with examples. 

Keywords Microemulsion polymerization Microemulsion reaction Water-in-Oil (W/O) microemulsion Oil-in-Water (0/W) microemulsion Bicontinuous microemulsion Functional membranes and inorganic/polymer nanocomposites... 

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