IP Library Granted Patent US 12,589,363
Granted Patent B2
US 12,589,363 · App. 17/926,471 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Crosslinked facilitated transport membrane for hydrogen purification from coal-derived syngas

Inventors: W.S. Winston Ho (Columbus, OH); Yang Han (Columbus, OH)
Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
B01D69/148B01D53/228B01D67/00793B01D71/0211B01D71/381B01D71/383B01D71/5211B01D71/5222B01D71/5223B01D71/701
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,589,363
App. No.
17/926,471
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Membranes, methods of making the membranes, and methods of using the membranes are described herein. The membrane can include a support layer, and a selective polymer layer disposed on the support layer. The selective polymer layer can include a selective polymer matrix (e.g., hydrophilic polymer, a cross-linking agent, an amino compound, a CO 2 -philic ether, or a combination thereof), and optionally graphene oxide dispersed within the selective polymer matrix. The membranes can be used to separate carbon dioxide from hydrogen. Also provided are methods of purifying syngas using the membranes described herein.

Claims (26)

1 . A membrane comprising:

a support layer; and

a selective polymer layer disposed on the support layer, the selective polymer layer comprising a selective polymer matrix, wherein the selective polymer matrix comprises a hydrophilic polymer, an aminosilane cross-linking agent, and a CO 2 -philic ether.

2 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the selective polymer layer further comprises graphene oxide dispersed within the selective polymer matrix.

3 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the selective polymer matrix further comprises an amino compound.

4 . The membrane of claim 3 , wherein the selective polymer matrix further comprises a low molecular weight amino compound.

5 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the aminosilane cross-linking agent is an aminosilane tetravalent single bonded Si with at least one substituent containing an amino group(s) defined by formula I below

wherein R 1 -R 3 are each independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; R 4 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or alkoxy; and R 5 and R 6 are each independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; or R 5 and R 6 , together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a five-or a six-membered heterocycle;

wherein at least one R 1 , R 2 or R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy.

6 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the aminosilane cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ethylenediamine, (N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)timethoxysilane, (N,N-dimenthylaminopropyl) dimethoxymethylsilane, (N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)dimethylmethoxysilane, (N,N-diethylaminopropyl)dimethoxymethylsilane, (N,N-diisopropylaminopropyl)dimethoxysilane, (N,N-diisopropylaminopropyl)trimethoxysilane, and blends thereof.

7 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylacetate, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamine, and copolymers thereof, or blends thereof.

8 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer.

9 . The membrane of claim 3 , wherein the amino compound comprises a low molecular weight amino compound.

10 . The membrane of claim 3 , wherein the low molecular weight amino compound comprises a salt of a primary amine or a salt of a secondary amine.

11 . The membrane of claim 3 , wherein the low molecular weight amino compound comprises a salt defined by a general formula below

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are hydrogen or hydrocarbon groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, and A m+ is a cation having a valence of 1 to 3, and m is an integer equal to the valence of the cation.

12 . The membrane of claim 3 , wherein the low molecular weight amino compound comprises an amino acid salt.

13 . The membrane of claim 12 , wherein the amino acid salt is defined by the formula below

wherein, independently for each occurrence in the amino acid, each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is selected from one of the following

wherein at least one of R 1 -R 4 comprises an amino group, or R 1 and R 3 , together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a five-membered heterocycle defined by the structure below when n is 1, or a six-membered heterocycle defined by the structure below when n is 2

14 . The membrane of claim 12 , wherein the amino acid salt comprises a glycinate salt, a sarcosinate salt, or an aminoisobutyrate salt.

15 . The membrane of claim 3 , wherein the amino compound comprises an amine-containing polymer.

16 . The membrane of claim 2 , wherein the graphene oxide has a carbon to oxygen ratio of from 3 to 20.

17 . The membrane of claim 2 , wherein the selective polymer layer comprises from 0.01% to 5% by weight graphene oxide, based on the total dry weight of the selective polymer layer.

18 . The membrane of claim 1 , wherein the selective polymer matrix has a CO 2 :H 2 selectivity of at least 50 at 107° C. and 31.7 bar feed pressure.

19 . A method for separating a first gas from a feed gas stream, the method comprising contacting a membrane defined by claim 1 with the feed gas stream comprising the first gas under conditions effective to afford transmembrane permeation of the first gas.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 12, 2023
From: OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 062358/0643 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2022
From: HO, W.S. WINSTON; HAN, YANG
To: OHIO STATE INNOVATION FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 061828/0669 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63026627 · May 18, 2020
Related Publication 20230182089A1 · Jun 15, 2023
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