CO2 Separation Membrane with Amine-Functionalized Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CO2 separation membranes face limitations in both CO2 selectivity and permeability, leading to high energy consumption and operational costs, making them unsuitable for commercial use in heavy industries like cement and steelmaking.

Innovation Solution

A CO2 separation membrane design featuring a CO2-philic layer with mobile and immobile amine-based carriers, combined with a CO2-permeable layer, enhances both selectivity and permeability through a hybrid structure that includes nanostructures and crosslinking, allowing for improved gas transport and reduced manufacturing challenges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional membrane materials (perfluoropolymers, thermally arranged polymers, iptycene-containing polymers) are used to achieve high CO2 permeability, then CO2 permeability is improved, but CO2 selectivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCO2 permeabilityVSAvoidCO2 selectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining perfluorinated polymer matrix with amine-functionalized polymer coatings and porous metal oxide nanoparticles. This composite structure allows the base polymer to provide high permeability while the functionalized layers provide selectivity through chemical interaction with CO2, resolving the trade-off between permeability and selectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient structure where the bulk polymer matrix maintains high permeability properties while the surface and near-surface regions contain concentrated amine functional groups and porous metal oxides that provide selective CO2 interaction. This spatial differentiation of functional properties allows simultaneous optimization of permeability and selectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If amine-functionalized materials (polyvinylamine, polyethyleneimine, polyallylamine) are used to improve CO2 selectivity, then CO2 selectivity is improved, but CO2 permeability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCO2 selectivityVSAvoidCO2 permeability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of amine-functionalized materials by controlling the degree of functionalization, polymer chain length, and molecular weight. By optimizing these parameters, the material achieves sufficient CO2 selectivity through chemical interaction while maintaining adequate permeability through controlled functional group density and mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates porous metal oxide nanoparticles (such as alumina, silica, or titania) into the amine-functionalized polymer matrix. These porous structures provide additional CO2 transport pathways that are not blocked by amine functional groups, thereby maintaining permeability while the amine groups provide selectivity through chemical interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Productivity

If adsorption or absorption processes are used for CO2 capture, then CO2 capture capacity is improved, but energy consumption and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCO2 capture capacityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal processes of adsorption and absorption with a membrane-based separation process that operates at lower energy levels. The membrane process uses intrinsic material properties (permeability and selectivity) to separate CO2 from other gases, eliminating the need for energy-intensive heating, pressurization, or chemical solvent regeneration required by conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 membrane achieves high CO2/N2 selectivity and permeance, reducing energy consumption and operational costs, making it suitable for commercial-scale CO2 capture in industrial settings.

Implementation Method 1

CO2 transportation within polymeric membranes is usually through solution-diffusion, which depends on the polymer material's intrinsic properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolution-diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

water adsorption nanostructures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS20240226802A1Integrated thin film composite membranes for co2 separation and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC

AI summary

A CO2 separation membrane can include a CO2-philic layer comprising one or more mobile CO2 carriers and one or more immobile CO2 carriers and a blended CO2-permeable and CO2-selective matrix that hosts the immobile or mobile CO2 carriers and porous nanostructures that adsorb water vapors. The CO2-philic layer can be disposed upstream of the CO2-permeance layer such that a flow of source gas to be separate enters the membrane from a feed side at which the CO2-philic layer is present and CO2 exits the membrane at a permeate side after passing through both the CO2-philic layer and the CO2-permeance layer.