Crosslinked polyethylene glycol polymer membranes for gas separation
A polymer membrane, methods of gas separation utilizing the polymer membrane, and methods of producing the polymer membrane are disclosed herein. The polymer membrane includes a crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I):
1. A polymer membrane comprising a crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I):
wherein:
l is an integer from 1 to 50;
m is an integer from 1 to 50;
n is an integer from 1 to 50; and
the polymer membrane is synthesized at a temperature less than or equal to 50° C.
2. The polymer membrane of claim 1 , wherein the polymer membrane further comprises a filtration membrane, which acts as a support for the crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer.
3. The polymer membrane of claim 2 , wherein the filtration membrane comprises polyacrylonitrile.
4. The polymer membrane of claim 2 , wherein the filtration membrane has a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 100,000 Daltons to 200,000 Daltons.
5. The polymer membrane of claim 2 , wherein the filtration membrane further comprises a polyester support layer.
6. The polymer membrane of claim 1 , wherein the crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer has a thickness of from 10 μm to 100 μm.
7. The polymer membrane of claim 1 , wherein 1 is an integer from 13 to 23, m is an integer from 13 to 23, and n is an integer from 13 to 23.
8. A method of gas separation comprising:
flowing a gas stream through a polymer membrane comprising a crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I):
and
separating the gas stream via the polymer membrane,
wherein:
l is an integer from 1 to 50;
m is an integer from 1 to 50;
n is an integer from 1 to 50; and
the polymer membrane is synthesized at a temperature less than or equal to 50° C.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gas stream comprises methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), or combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gas stream comprises greater than or equal to 4.0 parts per million by volume (ppmv) of H 2 S.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer membrane has a CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of at least 10.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer membrane has an H 2 S/CH 4 selectivity of at least 30.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein 1 is an integer from 13 to 23, m is an integer from 13 to 23, and n is an integer from 13 to 23.
14. A method of producing a polymer membrane comprising:
reacting polyethylene glycol oligomer and methylidynetri-p-phenylene triisocyanate to produce a crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I):
and
casting the crosslinked polyethylene glycol network polymer according to formula (I) onto a filtration membrane, thereby producing the polymer membrane, wherein:
l is an integer from 1 to 50;
m is an integer from 1 to 50;
n is an integer from 1 to 50; and
the polymer membrane is synthesized at a temperature less than or equal to 50° C.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein reacting polyethylene glycol oligomer and methylidynetri-p-phenylene triisocyanate comprises a reaction time of less than or equal to 100 minutes.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the filtration membrane comprises polyacrylonitrile.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the filtration membrane further comprises a polyester support layer.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein 1 is an integer from 13 to 23, m is an integer from 13 to 23, and n is an integer from 13 to 23.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the casting comprises knife casting.
20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising dissolving the polyethylene glycol oligomer in an amount of an aprotic solvent before combining the polyethylene glycol oligomer and the methylidynetri-p-phenylene triisocyanate.