Acid-Base Polymer Blend Membranes for Selective Water Vapor Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current membranes used in humidifiers for fuel cells, such as those made from halogenated fluorinated polymers like PFSAs, are costly, environmentally harmful due to fluorination, and lack biodegradability, while also being brittle and prone to swelling issues, which affects their performance and durability.

Innovation Solution

An acid-base polymer blend membrane with a composition of at least one acidic polymer and one basic or weak basic polymer, where the acidic polymer constitutes 60-98% of the blend and has a fluorine content below 20%, is used for selective water vapor transport, providing mechanical stability and resistance to air permeation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If halogenated fluorinated polymers (PFSAs) are used in membranes, then water permeation rate is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and environmental harm occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater permeation rateVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful fluorinated components from the polymer structure while retaining the essential water transport functionality. This is achieved by using non-fluorinated polymers with appropriate functional groups that can still facilitate water permeation through hydrophilic channels, thereby eliminating the need for expensive and environmentally harmful fluorination processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer by replacing fluorinated groups with alternative functional groups (such as sulfonated groups, carboxylated groups, or hydroxylated groups) that can provide similar water transport properties without the associated cost and environmental issues. This parameter change maintains water permeation rate while improving ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If halogenated fluorinated polymers (PFSAs) are used in membranes, then water permeation rate is improved, but environmental harm occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater permeation rateVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful fluorinated polymer structure into a beneficial non-fluorinated alternative by designing polymers with functional groups that enhance water transport through mechanisms such as hydrogen bonding and hydrophilic channel formation. This transformation eliminates environmental harm while maintaining or improving water permeation rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs readily available, non-fluorinated polymer materials that can be easily synthesized and degraded, replacing the persistent and environmentally harmful fluorinated polymers. These alternative materials offer similar performance but with reduced environmental impact and lower production costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If halogenated fluorinated polymers (PFSAs) are used in membranes, then chemical resistance is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates due to brittleness and swelling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical resistanceVSAvoidmechanical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite polymer structures by blending different non-fluorinated polymers with complementary properties. This composite approach allows the membrane to achieve both chemical resistance (through functional groups like sulfonated or carboxylated groups) and mechanical stability (through the structural integrity of the polymer matrix), avoiding the brittleness and swelling issues of pure fluorinated polymers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The acid-base polymer blend membrane effectively transports water vapor while maintaining mechanical stability and resistance to air, reducing environmental impact and production costs, and performing well at elevated temperatures and pressures.

Implementation Method 1

the separation filter should be tight for other gases from the intake and exhaust gas streams... the water vapor transport through the membrane in the humidifier needs to be realized against a macroscopic pressure difference

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

the separation filter should be tight for other gases from the intake and exhaust gas streams, in particular for nitrogen and oxygen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Semipermeable Membrane

Data Source

PatentEP4331713A1Acid-base polymer blend membranes for selective separation of gas

Publication Date: 2024.03.06 MANNHUMMEL LIFE SCI & ENVIRONMENT HLDG SINGAPORE PTE LTD

Figure 1

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an acid-base polymer blend membrane for selective transport of water molecules from a gaseous mixture comprising at least one first polymer (A) exhibiting acidic groups, and at least one second polymer, wherein the at least one second polymer is a polymer (B1) exhibiting basic groups or a polymer (B2) exhibiting weak basic groups; and wherein polymer (A) is comprised in an amount of from about 60 wt.-% to about 98 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the polymer blend membrane, and wherein the fluorine content of the acid-base polymer blend membrane is below 20 wt.-%.