CO2-philic Polyether Copolymer Membranes for Gas Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polymer membranes for CO2 separation face challenges due to a trade-off between permeability and selectivity, with polyether-based materials like PEO suffering from crystallization that reduces gas permeability, limiting their industrial application despite high CO2 selectivity.
Innovation Solution
Development of a polyether-based copolymer composition that dissolves in alcohol or alcohol-water mixtures, preventing crystallization and enabling the creation of high-selectivity, high-permeability CO2-philic thin-film composite membranes through simple scalable methods like dip-coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If polyether-based materials (PEO) are used to achieve high CO2 selectivity, then CO2 permeance is improved, but gas permeability deteriorates due to crystallization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of PEO from crystalline to amorphous by incorporating it into a copolymer structure with polyacrylonitrile. This parameter change prevents crystallization while maintaining the CO2-selective properties of PEO, thereby resolving the contradiction between CO2 selectivity and gas permeability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite copolymer material combining PEO and PAN segments. The PEO segments provide CO2 selectivity while the PAN segments prevent crystallization of PEO, resulting in a composite material that achieves both high CO2 selectivity and maintained gas permeability
2Quantity of substance
If polymer membranes are optimized for high CO2 permeability, then gas permeability is improved, but selectivity deteriorates due to the permeability-selectivity trade-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameter of the membrane from conventional polymer to polyether-based copolymer with amorphous structure. This parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of high CO2 permeability and high selectivity by preventing crystallization while maintaining free volume for gas transport
3Measurement precision
If neat PEO is used to achieve strong CO2 affinity, then CO2 selectivity is improved, but crystallization occurs reducing membrane performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite copolymer where PEO segments are combined with PAN segments. This composite structure maintains the strong CO2 affinity of PEO while the PAN segments disrupt the crystalline packing of PEO chains, preventing crystallization and maintaining membrane performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having PEO segments localized within the copolymer chain provide CO2 affinity while the overall copolymer structure prevents crystallization. The local PEO regions maintain their CO2-selective properties without undergoing harmful crystallization
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 copolymer membranes exhibit enhanced CO2 permeance and selectivity, maintaining thermal stability and preventing crystallization, making them suitable for industrial CO2 separation applications.
Implementation Method 1
the neat PEO has a strong tendency to crystallize due to the helical structure of the chains, which leads to a significant reduction in gas permeability. To effectively suppress the crystalline characteristic of PEO chains
Implementation Method 2
wherein the copolymer dissolves in one or more of an alcohol and alcohol-water mixture
Implementation Method 3
CO2 membrane-based gas separation has experienced significant growth in the past few decades relative to conventional separation processes
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a copolymer composition comprising a polyether-based copolymer, wherein the copolymer dissolves in one or more of an alcohol and alcohol-water mixture. Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a thin-film composite membrane comprising a porous support and a selective layer comprising a polyether-based copolymer, wherein the polyether-based copolymer dissolves in one or more of an alcohol and alcohol-water mixture. Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of capturing one or more chemical species comprising contacting a thin-film composite membrane with a fluid composition, wherein the fluid composition includes at least CO2 and capturing CO2 from the fluid composition. Embodiments of the present disclosure also describe methods of synthesizing copolymer compositions and methods of fabricating composite membranes.