Surface modified membranes for gas separation, and a method for preparing thereof

1. A CO 2 selective dense gas separation membrane comprising

a gas permeable support layer; and

at least one dense gas permeable polymer layer deposited on the gas permeable support layer, the dense gas permeable polymer layer is surface modified with polymer chains having CO 2 philic groups, wherein the CO 2 philic groups are functional groups of C1-C10 linear or branched molecules, wherein the modified surface of the dense gas permeable polymer layer is in the form of polymer chains stretching out from defined grafting points providing an open, not cross-linked structure with a spatially controlled distribution of the CO 2 philic groups on the surface of the dense gas permeable polymer layer, wherein the CO 2 selective dense gas separation membrane does not require impregnation with a liquid.

2. The gas separation membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer chains having CO 2 philic groups are grafted onto the surface of the dense gas permeable polymer layer.

3. The gas separation membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the dense gas permeable polymer layer is a water vapour permeable polymer.

4. The gas separation membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 philic groups are selected from amines, ethylene oxide, ethers, amides or hydroxyl groups.

5. The gas separation membrane according to claim 4 , wherein the CO 2 philic groups are amines selected from ethylene diamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine or triethylenetetramine.

6. The gas separation membrane according to claim 1 , wherein the gas permeable polymer layer comprises a perfluoro polymer or PDMS (polydimethyl siloxane) or PTMSP (poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne]) or PMP (poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) or polyvinyl alcohol.

7. A method for preparing a CO 2 selective gas separation membrane, comprising the steps of:

depositing at least one gas permeable polymer layer on a gas permeable support layer to form a dense membrane,

surface modifying the dense membrane with grafted polymer chains having CO 2 philic groups to obtain spatially controlled distribution of the CO 2 philic groups on the surface thereof, wherein the surface modifying includes the sequential steps:

creating grafting points onto the membrane surface by treating the surface with an initiator;

removing unreacted initiator;

adding a monomer solution to the membrane surface, after the step of removing, wherein the monomer solution comprises CO 2 philic groups; and

creating polymer chains starting from and stretching out from the grafting points forming an open, non-crosslinked structure by exposing the membrane covered by the monomer solution to UV radiation or radical polymerization.

8. The method according to claim 7 , comprising successive steps of depositing dense gas permeable polymer layers and surface modifying the surfaces thereof with CO 2 philic groups to obtain a multi-layered structure having CO 2 philic groups attached to the dense gas permeable polymer layer on top, in the middle and in bottom of the dense gas permeable polymer layers.

9. A method of separating CO 2 from a gas mixture comprising:

contacting the gas mixture with a CO 2 selective dense gas separation membrane, the gas separation membrane including:

a gas permeable support layer; and

at least one dense gas permeable polymer layer deposited on the gas permeable or porous support layer, the dense gas permeable polymer layer is surface modified with polymer chains having CO 2 philic groups,

wherein the modified surface of the dense gas permeable polymer layer is in the form of a an open structure and wherein the polymer chains are stretching out from the grafting points, wherein the dense gas permeable polymer layer has a spatially controlled distribution of the CO 2 philic groups on the surface thereof and wherein the CO 2 selective dense gas separation membrane does not require impregnation with a liquid.

10. The gas separation membrane according to claim 6 , wherein the perfluoro polymer comprises poly[4,5-difluoro-2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene].

11. A method for preparing a CO 2 selective gas separation membrane, comprising the steps of:

depositing at least one gas permeable polymer layer on a gas permeable support layer to form a dense membrane,

surface modifying the dense membrane with grafted polymer chains having CO 2 philic groups to obtain spatially controlled distribution of the CO 2 philic groups on the surface thereof, wherein the surface modifying includes the sequential steps:

creating grafting points onto the membrane surface by treating the surface with an initiator;

removing unreacted initiator;

adding a monomer solution to the membrane surface after the step of removing;

creating polymer chains starting from and stretching out from the grafting points by exposing the membrane covered by the monomer solution to UV radiation or radical polymerization forming an open, non-crosslinked structure; and

functionalizing the polymer chains by reacting the grafted polymer chains with molecules containing CO 2 philic groups.

12. The method according to claim 7 , comprising successive steps of depositing dense gas permeable polymer layers and surface modifying the surfaces thereof with CO 2 philic groups to obtain a multi-layered structure having CO 2 philic groups attached to the dense gas permeable polymer layer on top, in the middle and in bottom of the dense gas permeable polymer layers.

13. The method according to claim 11 , comprising successive steps of depositing dense gas permeable polymer layers and surface modifying the surfaces thereof with CO 2 philic groups to obtain a multi-layered structure having CO 2 philic groups attached to the dense gas permeable polymer layer on top, in the middle and in bottom of the gas permeable polymer layers.