Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membranes including hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes with high permeances for air separations and a method of making these membranes. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes have O2 permeance higher than 300 GPU and O2/N2 selectivity higher than 3 at 60° C. under 308 kPa for O2/N2 separation. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes also have CO2 permeance higher than 1000 GPU and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 higher than 20 at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membranes including hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes with high permeances for air separations and a method of making these membranes. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes have O2 permeance higher than 300 GPU and O2/N2 selectivity higher than 3 at 60° C. under 308 kPa for O2/N2 separation. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes also have CO2 permeance higher than 1000 GPU and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 higher than 20 at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation.

Abstract: This invention discloses a composition of, a method of making, and an application of high plasticization-resistant chemically cross-linked organic-inorganic hybrid membranes such as cross-linked cellulose acetate-cellulose triacetate-polyurethanepropylsilsesquioxane membranes. These cross-linked membranes with covalently interpolymer-chain-connected hybrid networks were prepared via a sol-gel condensation polymerization of cross-linkable organic polymer-organosilicon alkoxide precursor membrane materials. CO2 plasticization tests on these cross-linked membranes demonstrate extremely high CO2 plasticization resistance under CO2 pressure up to 5516 kPa (800 psig). These new cross-linked membranes can be used not only for gas separations such as CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separations, O2/N2 separation, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), iso/normal paraffins separations, but also for liquid separations such as desalination.

Abstract: This invention discloses a composition of, a method of making, and an application of high plasticization-resistant chemically cross-linked organic-inorganic hybrid membranes such as cross-linked cellulose acetate-cellulose triacetate-polyurethanepropylsilsesquioxane membranes. These cross-linked membranes with covalently interpolymer-chain-connected hybrid networks were prepared via a sol-gel condensation polymerization of cross-linkable organic polymer-organosilicon alkoxide precursor membrane materials. CO2 plasticization tests on these cross-linked membranes demonstrate extremely high CO2 plasticization resistance under CO2 pressure up to 5516 kPa (800 psig). These new cross-linked membranes can be used not only for gas separations such as CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separations, O2/N2 separation, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), iso/normal paraffins separations, but also for liquid separations such as desalination.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel high performance cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes and the use of such membranes for separations such as for CO2/CH4, H2/CH4 and propylene/propane separations. More specifically, the invention involves the preparation of cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The cross-linkable MMMs were prepared by incorporating microporous molecular sieves or soluble high surface area microporous polymers (PIMs) as dispersed microporous fillers into a continuous cross-linkable polymer matrix. The cross-linked MMMs were prepared by UV-cross-linking the cross-linkable MMMs containing cross-linkable polymer matrix such as BP-55 polyimide. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrated that both types of MMMs exhibited higher performance for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations than those of the corresponding cross-linkable and cross-linked pure polymer matrices.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel high performance cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes and the use of such membranes for separations such as for CO2/CH4, H2/CH4 and propylene/propane separations. More specifically, the invention involves the preparation of cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The cross-linkable MMMs were prepared by incorporating microporous molecular sieves or soluble high surface area microporous polymers (PIMs) as dispersed microporous fillers into a continuous cross-linkable polymer matrix. The cross-linked MMMs were prepared by UV-cross-linking the cross-linkable MMMs containing cross-linkable polymer matrix such as BP-55 polyimide. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrated that both types of MMMs exhibited higher performance for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations than those of the corresponding cross-linkable and cross-linked pure polymer matrices.

Abstract: The present invention is for novel high performance cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes and the use of such membranes for separations such as for CO2/CH4, H2/CH4 and propylene/propane separations. More specifically, the invention involves the preparation of cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The cross-linkable MMMs were prepared by incorporating microporous molecular sieves or soluble high surface area microporous polymers (PIMs) as dispersed microporous fillers into a continuous cross-linkable polymer matrix. The cross-linked MMMs were prepared by UV-cross-linking the cross-linkable MMMs containing cross-linkable polymer matrix such as BP-55 polyimide. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrated that both types of MMMs exhibited higher performance for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations than those of the corresponding cross-linkable and cross-linked pure polymer matrices.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of separating gases using high performance UV cross-linked polymer functionalized molecular sieve/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with either no macrovoids or voids of less than several angstroms at the interface of the polymer matrix and the molecular sieves. These UV cross-linked MMMs were prepared by incorporating polyethersulfone (PES) functionalized molecular sieves such as AIPO-14 and UZM-25 small pore microporous molecular sieves into a continuous UV cross-linkable polyimide polymer matrix followed by UV cross-linking. The UV cross-linked MMMs in the form of symmetric dense film, asymmetric flat sheet membrane, or asymmetric hollow fiber membranes have good flexibility, high mechanical strength, and exhibit significantly enhanced selectivity and permeability over polymer membranes made from corresponding continuous polyimide polymer matrices for carbon dioxide/methane and hydrogen/methane separations.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of making high performance UV cross-linked polymer functionalized molecular sieve/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with either no macrovoids or voids of less than several angstroms at the interface of the polymer matrix and the molecular sieves. These UV cross-linked MMMs were prepared by incorporating polyethersulfone (PES) functionalized molecular sieves such as AlPO-14 and UZM-25 small pore microporous molecular sieves into a continuous UV cross-linkable polyimide polymer matrix followed by UV cross-linking. The UV cross-linked MMMs in the form of symmetric dense film, asymmetric flat sheet membrane, or asymmetric hollow fiber membranes have good flexibility, high mechanical strength, and exhibit significantly enhanced selectivity and permeability over polymer membranes made from corresponding continuous polyimide polymer matrices for carbon dioxide/methane and hydrogen/methane separations.

Abstract: The present invention discloses high performance UV cross-linked polymer functionalized molecular sieve/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), the method of making these membranes, and the use of such membranes for separations. These UV cross-linked MMMs were prepared by incorporating polyethersulfone functionalized molecular sieves such as AlPO-14 and UZM-25 into a continuous UV cross-linkable polymer matrix followed by UV cross-linking. The UV cross-linked MMMs in the form of symmetric dense film, asymmetric flat sheet membrane, or asymmetric hollow fiber membranes described in the current invention have good flexibility and high mechanical strength, and exhibit significantly enhanced selectivity and permeability over the polymer membranes made from the corresponding continuous polyimide polymer matrices for carbon dioxide/methane (CO2/CH4) and hydrogen/methane (H2/CH4) separations.

Abstract: The present invention discloses high performance UV cross-linked polymer functionalized molecular sieve/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with either no macrovoids or voids of less than several angstroms at the interface of the polymer matrix and the molecular sieves. These UV cross-linked MMMs were prepared by incorporating polyethersulfone (PES) functionalized molecular sieves such as AlPO-14 and UZM-25 small pore microporous molecular sieves into a continuous UV cross-linkable polyimide polymer matrix followed by UV cross-linking. The UV cross-linked MMMs in the form of symmetric dense film, asymmetric flat sheet membrane, or asymmetric hollow fiber membranes have good flexibility, high mechanical strength, and exhibit significantly enhanced selectivity and permeability over polymer membranes made from corresponding continuous polyimide polymer matrices for carbon dioxide/methane and hydrogen/methane separations.

Abstract: An improved mixed matrix membrane for the separation of gases comprises a nitrogen containing compound such as an amine, silicone rubber and activated carbon on a porous support. The membrane may also comprise a carbonate such as potassium carbonate and a plasticizer such as polyethylene glycol. Membranes of this design may be used in processing natural gas or other gases. The gases which may be separated by the membrane include mixtures of methane and carbon dioxide, mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen, and mixtures of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making an epoxysilicone coated membrane by coating a porous asymmetric membrane layer with a UV-curable controlled release epoxysilicone coating. A mixture of the epoxysilicone resin and an onium photocatalyst are applied to the porous asymmetric membrane layer in a dilute non-polar solution and cured by UV or electron beam radiation to produce a dry epoxysilicone coated membrane. The porous asymmetric membrane layer is comprised of an asymmetric cellulosic membrane or an asymmetric polymer membrane with a low selectivity. The epoxysilicone coating was found to provide the asymmetric membrane layer with improved selectivity which extends to separation temperatures below 70° C. and provides stable flux rates. Membranes produced in this manner are useful for the separation of gases such as carbon dioxide from natural gas.

Abstract: This invention provides a composite gas separation membrane comprising: (a) a porous polyacrylonitrile structural support material having a polyacrylonitrile surface; (b) a gutter layer coating comprising a crosslinked polar phenyl-containing-organopolysiloxane material on the polyacrylonitrile surface of the structural support material, leaving an uncoated gutter layer surface; and (c) an ultrathin 6FDA type polyimide selective membrane layer coating on the uncoated gutter layer surface. In preferred embodiments, the phenyl-containing-organopolysiloxane material additionally comprises a silica-sol. Processes for making the composite gas separation membrane and for using the membrane to carry out gas separations are also provided.