CO
This disclosure relates to CO 2 -philic crosslinked polyethylene glycol membranes useful for natural gas purification processes. Also provided are methods of using the membranes to remove CO 2 and H 2 S from natural gas.
1. A CO 2 -philic polyethylene glycol (PEG) compound of Formula (Ia):
wherein:
each n is independently an integer between 1 and 100.
2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein each n is independently an integer between 4 and 50.
3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein each n is independently an integer between 4 and 20.
4. A CO 2 -philic polyethylene glycol (PEG) compound of Formula (Ib):
wherein each m is independently an integer between 1 and 25.
5. The compound of claim 4 , wherein each m is independently an integer between 4 and 20.
6. A CO 2 -philic membrane, comprising a crosslinked CO 2 -philic polyethylene glycol (PEG) compound of Formula (I):
wherein:
R is selected from:
each n is independently an integer between 1 and 100; and
each m is independently an integer between 1 and 100.
7. The membrane of claim 6 , wherein the compound of Formula (I) is a compound of Formula (Ia):
wherein each n is independently an integer between 1 and 100.
8. The compound of claim 7 , wherein each n is independently an integer between 4 and 50.
9. The compound of claim 7 , wherein each n is independently an integer between 4 and 20.
10. The membrane of claim 6 , wherein the compound of Formula (I) is a compound of Formula (Ib):
wherein each m is independently an integer between 1 and 100.
11. The compound of claim 10 , wherein each m is independently an integer between 4 and 50.
12. The compound of claim 10 , wherein each m is independently an integer between 4 and 20.
13. The membrane of claim 6 , wherein the membrane demonstrates enhanced gas separation performance in a sequestration of CO 2 and H 2 S from natural gas as compared to a membrane that does not contain the CO 2 -philic PEG compound.
14. The membrane of claim 13 , wherein the membrane exhibits a CO 2 -permeability increase of about 2,000% to about 4,000% as compared to a membrane that does not contain the CO 2 -philic PEG compound.
15. The membrane of claim 13 , wherein the membrane exhibits a H 2 S-permeability increase of about 2,000% to about 4,000% as compared to a membrane that does not contain the CO 2 -philic PEG compound.
16. The membrane of claim 13 , wherein the membrane exhibits a H 2 S/CH 4 selectivity increase of about 30% to about 60% as compared to a membrane that does not contain the CO 2 -philic PEG compound.