Sulfone Polymer Membranes via N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone Solvent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sulfone polymers face challenges with limited solubility in common solvents, leading to turbidity and membrane imperfections, and existing solvents like NMP and DMAc are reprotoxic, necessitating the development of non-reprotoxic alternatives that maintain high sulfone polymer content and membrane quality with improved mechanical stability and water permeability.
Innovation Solution
A solution comprising a sulfone polymer and N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone as a solvent, combined with a water-soluble polymer or additive, which enhances solution viscosity and stability, reducing turbidity and macrovoids, and improving membrane pore morphology and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If common solvents like NMP, DMAc, DMF, or DMSO are used for sulfone polymers, then the sulfone polymer can be dissolved, but the solvents are reprotoxic and cause membrane imperfections and turbidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the solvent by using N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone instead of conventional solvents like NMP, DMAc, DMF, or DMSO. This parameter change eliminates reprotoxicity while maintaining the ability to dissolve sulfone polymers and produce high-quality membranes without turbidity or imperfections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces harmful, persistent reprotoxic solvents with a non-reprotoxic alternative that can be safely disposed of or degraded, eliminating the long-term environmental and health concerns associated with conventional solvents while maintaining membrane production quality
2Quantity of substance
If low molecular weight sulfone polymer fractions are used, then the polymer is more soluble, but the solution becomes turbid and causes membrane manufacturing problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter to N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone, which has superior solvency for sulfone polymers compared to conventional solvents. This parameter change allows high concentrations of sulfone polymer (even low molecular weight fractions) to be dissolved without causing turbidity, enabling both high polymer content and solution clarity
3Ease of operation
If polysulfone solutions with low viscosity are used, then the solution is easier to process, but the membrane mechanical stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter to N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone, which provides optimal viscosity characteristics for membrane formation. This parameter change enables the solution to have sufficient viscosity for good membrane mechanical stability while remaining processable, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and membrane strength
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 use of N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone as a solvent for sulfone polymers results in membranes with high mechanical stability, excellent separation characteristics, and improved water permeability, achieving better membrane quality and longer lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
A solution comprises a sulfone polymer and N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone as a solvent
Implementation Method 2
combined with a water-soluble polymer or additive, which enhances solution viscosity and stability
Implementation Method 3
improved water permeability, achieving better membrane quality
Implementation Method 4
improving membrane pore morphology
Data Source
AI summary
A solution contains at least one sulfone polymer and N-tert.-butyl-2-pyrrolidone. The solution can be used in a process of making a membrane, which is useful for water treatment.