IP Library Granted Patent US 12,434,219
Granted Patent B2
US 12,434,219 · App. 17/637,188 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Polymers, fluorinated ionic polymer networks, and methods related thereto

Inventors: Frank Leibfarth (Carrboro, NC); Elango Kumarasamy (Ithaca, NY); Irene Manning (Carrboro, NC)
Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
B01J20/264B01J20/28007B01J20/28016B01J20/28033B01J20/3425B01J20/3475C02F1/285C08F212/34C02F2101/36C02F2303/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,434,219
App. No.
17/637,188
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are materials and methods related to the removal of a polyfluorinated alkyl compound from water. The materials contain both fluorine and an ion, which materials can be used as a network to remove the polyfluorinated alkyl compound from water.

Claims (35)

1. A method of removing a polyfluorinated alkyl compound from water, the method comprising absorbing the polyfluorinated alkyl compound from the water with a resin comprising a fluorinated ionic polymer network,

wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a co-polymer made from a) a monomer comprising an ion generating moiety or a monomer comprising an ion; and b) a monomer comprising a fluorine having a structure:

wherein each X is individually CF 2 or O, wherein each Y is polymerizable group, wherein n is from 0-100, wherein o is from 0-100, and wherein each m is individually from 1-30.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of removing the fluorinated ionic polymer network comprising the absorbed polyfluorinated alkyl compound from the water.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises the step of separating the absorbed polyfluorinated alkyl compound from the fluorinated ionic polymer network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a fluorinated cationic polymer network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a fluorinated anionic polymer network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a fluorinated zwitterionic polymer network.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a co-polymer made from a monomer comprising fluorine and a monomer comprising an ion-generating moiety.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ion-generating moiety is an amine, imidazole, benzimidazole, guanidinium, triazole, pyridine, diazine, triazine, thiol, thioether, phosphorane, or phosphine.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network comprises a quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium.

10. The method of anyone of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable group is acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinylcarbonate, vinylcarbamate, vinyl ester, vinyl benzyl, vinyl halobenzyl, vinyl ether, epoxide, oxirane, hydroxyl, or isocyanate.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is in the form of a particle having a mean average diameter from 5 nm to 10 cm.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a membrane or part of a membrane.

13. A method of removing a polyfluorinated alkyl compound from water, the method comprising absorbing the polyfluorinated alkyl compound from the water with a resin comprising a fluorinated ionic polymer network,

wherein the fluorinated ionic polymer network is a co-polymer made from a monomer comprising fluorine and a monomer comprising an ion,

wherein the monomer comprising fluorine has a structure:

wherein n is from 0-100 and o is from 0-100.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monomer comprising an ion generating moiety has a structure:

wherein each R 1 group independently is H or C1-C3 alkyl.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monomer comprising an ion generating moiety has a structure:

wherein each R 2 group independently is H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 fluoroalkyl, aryl, or fluoroaryl,

wherein p is from 0-11, and

wherein Y is a polymerizable group.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monomer comprising an ion has a structure:

wherein each R 3 group independently is H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 fluoroalkyl, aryl, or fluoroaryl,

wherein p is from 0-11,

wherein Y is a polymerizable group, and

wherein Q is a counter-ion.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the monomer comprising an ion has a structure;

wherein each R 4 group independently is H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 fluoroalkyl, aryl, or fluoroaryl,

wherein each u is independently from 0-10,

wherein Y is a polymerizable group,

wherein Z is an anionic group or a polymerizable group, and

wherein Q is a counter-ion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2022
From: LEIBFARTH, FRANK; KUMARASAMY, ELANGO; MANNING, IRENE
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Reel/Frame 060351/0745 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62891111 · Aug 23, 2019
Related Publication 20220305458A1 · Sep 29, 2022
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