Poly(meth)acrylate Membranes for Hydrocarbon Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pervaporation membranes are unstable at moderately high temperatures and prone to excessive swelling and chemical instability, limiting their long-term use in separating aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, which is essential for reducing energy consumption in the petroleum industry.
Innovation Solution
Development of a separation membrane using a polymerizable vinyl containing polyester composition, specifically polyester poly(meth)acrylates, which are polymerized with a free radical initiator to create a stable membrane capable of withstanding organic liquids and temperatures, incorporating various substituents and vinyl copolymers for enhanced selectivity and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pervaporation membranes are used for separation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, then separation selectivity is achieved, but the membranes suffer from excessive swelling and chemical instability at moderately high temperatures, limiting long-term durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the membrane material by using polyesters with specific glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranging from -50°C to 0°C and controlled molecular weights (1000-10000 g/mol). These parameter changes enable the membrane to maintain dimensional stability and resist swelling at moderately high temperatures while preserving separation selectivity for aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite membrane structures combining polyester polymers with specific functional groups and crosslinking agents. The composite material system includes polyesters containing carbonyl groups, hydroxyl groups, or carboxyl groups, combined with crosslinking agents that form stable networks resistant to chemical degradation and thermal swelling, thereby improving both reliability and compositional stability
2Use of energy by moving object
If membrane pervaporation technology is implemented to separate hydrocarbon mixtures, then energy consumption is reduced compared to distillation, but the membranes fail due to temperature instability and excessive swelling, preventing commercial deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes physical parameters including glass transition temperature (Tg: -50°C to 0°C), molecular weight (1000-10000 g/mol), and crosslinking density to achieve membranes that can operate at moderately high temperatures without swelling or degrading. These parameter changes enable reliable energy-efficient separation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary crosslinking treatments and surface modifications during membrane fabrication to pre-establish stable molecular networks and protective surface layers. This preliminary action prevents excessive swelling and chemical degradation during subsequent high-temperature operation, ensuring long-term reliability for energy-efficient separation applications
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 resulting membranes exhibit high selectivity and durability, maintaining performance over time, reducing energy consumption and enabling efficient separation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, thus addressing the stability issues of previous membrane technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a polymerizable vinyl containing polyester composition, comprising a vinyl containing polyester and a free radical initiator
Implementation Method 2
Pervaporation is characterized by imposition of a barrier membrane between a liquid and a gaseous phase, with mass transfer occurring selectively across the barrier to the gas side. Because of the unique phenomenon of phase change required of the liquids across the barrier, the process is termed pervaporation.
Implementation Method 3
membranes separate molecules on the basis of molecular interactions with the polymer in the membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The separation of hydrocarbon mixtures comprising a polymerizable vinyl containing polyester of the formula I:Each R and R2 is independently a C6-C20 aromatic residue or a C1-C20 aliphatic residue. Each R1 is independently hydrogen or C1-C5 alkyl; “j” is an integer in the range of 1-1000. Z is a heteroatom or two hydrogen atoms. The invention is also directed to the method of preparing the separation membrane.