Strategy for Selection of Composite Membrane Materials

Abstract

A method to identify polymers that are potentially useful for membrane separations has been developed by examining gas chromatography (GC) retention data. Promising stationary phases were identified, and polymers with similar structures were obtained and deposited into inorganic supports. Polymers were identified to separate ketones and alcohols from hydrocarbons. The polymer/inorganic composite membranes synthesized for this research were characterized by IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Favorable fluxes and high separations factors were achieved for several composite materials.

Transport properties of cellulose ester membranes for separating gas and liquid mixtures

“…Roberts et al [20] employed this technique using chromatographic columns with different polymeric stationary phases to predict the direction of selective mass transfer across the membranes fabricated from the same polymers in separating binary liquid mixtures. As a criterion they used the retention time (retention time of a component of the mixture on the column is in inverse proportion to its flow rate across the membrane).…”