Chemical-Modified Nylon 4 Membrane for Pervaporation

Abstract

A hydrophilic polymer membrane was synthesized with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) onto a Nylon 4 polymer backbone, PHEMA-g-N4. The membranes were water permselective because of the hydrophilicity, and the water permselectivity increased with increasing the degree of grafting. Permseparation of water was investigated with respect to the feed aqueous alcohol concentration, feed temperature, size of the alcohols, and degree of grafting. The separation factors of this PHEMA-g-N4 membrane were higher than those of the unmodified Nylon 4 membrane for pervaporation of aqueous ethanol solution, while the permeation rate was slightly lower. A separation factor of 98 and a 194 g/m²·h permeation rate could be obtained. Compared with an unmodified Nylon 4 membrane, the PHEMA-g-N4 membrane effectively increased the pervaporation separation index for the water-ethanol mixtures on pervaporation separation.     

Molecular polyimide brushes as a novel membrane material for pervaporation processes

Samples of molecular polyimide brushes with poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains with substantially different grafting densities and lengths of side chains are obtained by the atom-transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate using samples of polyimide multicenter macroinitiators with different contents of initiation groups. Strong homogeneous films suitable for use as diffusion membranes for pervaporation separations of liquid mixtures are cast from solutions of polyimide brushes in dimethylformamide. Investigations are performed for films of polyimide brushes with loosely grafted short side chains or densely grafted long side chains as well as for films of a polyimide identical in its chemical structure to the backbone of polyimide brushes. It is shown that all film membranes sorb water moderately and do not sorb isopropanol. For membranes made of the polyimide and the loosely grafted brush, which is close to the polyimide in its properties, the active sorption of acetonitrile is demonstrated. It is found that all membranes exhibit high selectivities for water upon pervaporation of water–isopropanol mixtures. In addition, membranes made of the brush with densely grafted side chains show high productivity.     

Ion-containing reverse osmosis membranes obtained by radiation grafting method

Cationic membranes obtained by radiation grafting of acqueous acrylic acid onto low density polyethylene films followed by alkaline treatment to confer ionic character in the graft chains, were tested for reverse osmosis desalination of saline water. Selected physical properties of such membranes were investigated. The grafted membranes prossess good mechanical and electrical properties. Water uptake for the alkali-treated membrane was much higher than that of the alkali-untreated one. The effect of operation time, degree of grafting, applied pressure and feed concentration on the water flux and salt rejection for the grafted membranes was investigated. Such cationic membranes showed good durability, thermal and chemical stability, acceptable water flux and salt rejection which may make them acceptable for practical use in reverse osmosis desalination of sea water.     

Relations entre la structure et les proprietes des membranes de polytetrafluoroethylene greffe—I. Membranes monogreffees carboxyliques ou basiques

We have determined the equilibrium properties (neutralization and swelling and the transport properties: conductivity and dialysis) of hydrophilic membranes obtained by radiation grafting of acrylic acid or 4-vinylpyridine onto thin PTFE films. The presence of strong counter-ion-membrane interaction (PTFE-PAA-K⁺ and PTFE-P4VP-ClO^?₄) has been confirmed in the beginning of neutralization. The grafting ratios of the samples ranged between a few percent and several hundreds percent. The properties have been studied in connection with the average degrees of ionization and the average molalities of the reactive groups throughout the whole thickness of the membrane. The parameters of the synthesis which determine the structure of acid or basic grafted chains also have an influence on the properties of the resulting membranes. For a high dose-rate (> 100 rad min^?1), the properties of carboxylic membranes are related to the degree of cross-linking: for smaller dose rates, the properties are related to the length of the grafted branches and/or to the state of the skeleton of PTFE. For the basic membranes, the properties are controlled by the length of the grafted branches and the importance of the micro-phase-separation between PTFE and the grafted chains; for low dose rates, when the grafted branches are long, separation of hydrophobic and ionizable zones is noticed for grafting ratios higher than 5%. The carboxylic membranes with lower degrees of grafting, prepared with a high dose rate, exhibit very good permselectivity. The pyridinic membranes with a low degree of grafting could be of practical interest, viz. the manufacture of selective electrodes for perchlorate ions.     

Investigation and characterization of PVA-g-AAc/Zol membranes for possible practical use in separation processes

Poly(vinyl alcohol) films were grafted with two monomers (acrylic acid and N-vinyl imidazole) using the gamma irradiation technique. The melting temperature (T_m) and glass transition temperature (T_g) of the grafted membranes were determined with respect to the grafting yield. The ability of these membranes to separate cobalt from nickel has been investigated. The diffusion of cobalt and nickel ions from the feed compartment to the receiver compartment depends on the grafting yield and the pH of the feed solution. Cobalt ions do not diffuse through the membrane when the pH of the feed solution is >4.5. Thus, the prepared membranes could be considered for the separation of cobalt ions from nickel ions. The temperature of thermal decomposition of pure PVA-g-AAc/Zol membrane, PVA-g-AAc/Zol membranes containing cobalt ions, and PVA-g-AAc/Zol membranes containing nickel ions are determined using TGA analyzer; it was shown that the presence of cobalt and nickel increases the decomposition temperature. Also the membranes bonded with cobalt ions are more stable than the membranes containing nickel ions.     

Pervaporation of ethanol-water mixtures through temperature-sensitive poly(vinyl alcohol-g-N-isopropyacrylamide) membranes

Novel temperature-sensitive membranes have been synthesized by grafting poly(N-isopropyacrylamide) (poly(NIPAAm)) onto a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) backbone using hydrogen peroxide-ferrous ion as initiator. Due to the grafting of poly(NIPAAm), the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and the polarity of the pendent groups within the membranes are modified. Significant temperature sensitivity of the grafted membranes is observed close to the LCST of linear poly(NIPAAm) in the pervaporation processes for ethanol-water separation. Both the pervaporation and sorption selectivities for water show a maximum value in the vicinity of 30–32°C for an ethanol content of 75 and 80%. The temperature sensitivity of the grafted membranes also depends on the ethanol concentration. The maxima of pervaporation and sorption selectivities disappear when the ethanol content is lower than 75% because the much larger degree of swelling reduces the size screening effect of the membranes.     

Relations entre la structure et les proprietes des membranes de polytetrafluoroethylene greffe—III. Membranes non-ionisables contenant de la poly-n-vinylpyrrolidone

Equilibrium properties (swelling) and transport phenomena (dialysis) of non-ionizable membranes, obtained by radiation grafting of N-vinylpyrrolidone onto thin PTFE films, were studied. Grafting was conducted by the direct method with monomer solutions in benzene. The overall activation energy of grafting determined between 20 and 50° is high (12.5 kcal mol^?1): the reaction is controlled by the monomer diffusion into PTFE film. The length of grafted chains increases with temperature.The molality of the membranes decreases when the temperature of grafting increases; for a given grafting ratio, the swelling is higher for membranes containing a small number of long grafts than for membranes with numerous short branches. The transfer of both ions and water is a function of the free volume in the films, it depends on the grafting ratio and is not influenced by the preparation conditions.     

Preparation of poly(ether ether ketone)-based polymer electrolytes for fuel cell membranes using grafting technique

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)-based polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) was successfully prepared by radiation grafting of a styrene monomer into PEEK films and the consequent selective sulfonation of the grafting chains in the film state. Using milder sulfonation, the sulfonation reactions proceeded at the grafted chains in preference to the phenylene rings of PEEK main chains; as a result, the grafted films could successfully transform to a PEM with conductivity of more than 0.1 S/cm. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) and conductivity of the grafted PEEK electrolyte membranes were controlled to the ranges of 1.2–2.9 mmol/g and 0.03–0.18 S/cm by changing the grafting degree. It should be noted that this is the first example of directly transforming super-engineering plastic films into a PEM using radiation grafting.     

SURFACE MODIFICATION OF MICROPOROUS POLYPROPYLENE MEMBRANES BY GRAFT POLYMERIZATION OF N,N-DIMETHYLAMINOETHYL METHACRYLATE

Surface modification of microporous polypropylene hollow fiber membranes was performed by radical-induced graft polymerization of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The influences of temperature, monomer concentration and pre-adsorbed amount of benzoyl peroxide on grafting degree were studied respectively. It was found that the appropriate graft temperature was 75℃, at which the grafting degree was the highest and the hydrolytic decomposition of DMAEMA the lowest. Scanning electron photomicrography and the average pore diameters of the modified membranes demonstrated that part of the micropores on the membrane surface was plugged by the grafted polyDMAEMA chains, especially at high grafting degree. Contact angle and water swelling experiments showed that a moderate grafting degree could improve the hydrophilicity of the membranes. In the range of I 1.3%o-12.0% grafting degree, the water swelling percentage reached its maximum (51.1%) and the contact angle reached its minimum (74 degrees). The bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption experiment indicated that the grafted polyDMAEMA had a dual effect on protein adsorption. At the first stage, the BSA adsorption decreased with increasing of DMAEMA grafting degree. As the interaction between BSA and polyDMAEMA on membrane surface increased, the BSA adsorption increased with increasing of DMAEMA grafting degree.     

光接枝法制备新型pH开关核孔膜

用表面光接枝方法制备了具有pH开关特性的丙烯酸接枝PET核孔膜 .XPS、SEM和AFM的表征结果证明 ,接枝膜具有非对称结构 ,丙烯酸接枝层主要在膜的向光侧表面 ,膜背侧和膜孔内没有变化 .膜孔周围的接枝链在湿态下沉入膜孔 ,接枝层对膜孔顶部产生封盖 .接枝链的体积随环境pH值的不同而变化 ,从而控制接枝膜的滤过特性 .在低接枝程度时 ,接枝链体积变化对膜孔径的影响小 ,不具有pH开关特性 ,但是接枝提高了膜的亲水性 ,通量得到提高 ;接枝程度达到一定程度时 (如 0 5 %) ,膜孔径受接枝链体积变化的影响显著 ,接枝膜表现出pH开关效应 .在pH大于 5时 ,接枝膜通量恒定 ,基本不受溶液pH值影响 .当pH值小于 4时 ,膜通量随溶液酸性的增加迅速升高 .接枝膜的开关幅度JpH =2 JpH =6 8,随接枝程度的增加而增加 .膜的通量和开关幅度可以通过接枝程度来调节     

Novel UV‐induced photografting process for preparing poly(tetrafluoroethylene)‐based proton‐conducting membranes

A novel process comprising the UV‐induced photografting of styrene into poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films and subsequent sulfonation has been developed for preparing proton‐conducting membranes. Although under UV irradiation the initial radicals were mainly generated on the surface of the PTFE films by the action of photosensitizers such as xanthone and benzoyl peroxide, the graft chains were readily propagated into the PTFE films. The sulfonation of the grafted films was performed in a chlorosulfonic acid solution. Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the grafted and sulfonated membranes. With a view to use in fuel cells, the proton conductivity, water uptake, and mechanical properties of the prepared membranes were measured. Even through the degree of grafting was lower than 10%, the proton conductivity in the thickness direction of the newly prepared membranes could reach a value similar to that of a Nafion membrane. In comparison with γ‐ray radiation grafting, UV‐induced photografting is very simple and safe and is less damaging to the membranes because significant degradation of the PTFE main chains can be avoided. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2624–2637, 2007     

Cation exchange membranes by pre-irradiation grafting of styrene into FEP films. II. Properties of copolymer membranes

The structure and some physico-chemical properties of radiation grafted FEP-g-polystyrenesulfonic acid proton exchange membranes were studied as a function of the degree of grafting. The distribution of grafted polymer across the membrane thickness was obtained from microprobe measurements. It was found that for low levels of grafting (ca. 3%), polystyrene chains are located near the membrane surface only, and the interior of the membrane remains ungrafted. With the increasing degree of grafting, polystyrene chains were incorporated into the interior of the membrane as well. An almost homogeneous distribution of grafts in the membrane was obtained at a graft level of > 13%. The influence of the degree of grafting on membrane properties, such as ion exchange capacity, swelling, and specific resistivity was studied. Three different states of water, viz., freezing free, freezing bound, and nonfreezing water have been identified in noncrosslinked membranes. However, the nature and the amount of crosslinker had a profound influence on the states of water in a membrane. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Post-irradiation time effects on the graft of poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films for ion exchange membrane application

Grafting of styrene followed by sulfonation onto poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) was studied for synthesis of ion exchange membranes. Radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto ETFE films was investigated after simultaneous irradiation (in post-irradiation condition) using a ⁶⁰Co source. The ETFE films were irradiated at 20 kGy dose at room temperature and chemical changes were monitored after contact with styrene for grafting. The post-irradiation time was established at 14 days when the films were remained in styrene/toluene 1:1 v/v. After this period the grafting degree was evaluated in the samples. The grafted films were sulfonated using chlorosulfonic acid and 1, 2-dichloroethane 20:80 (v/v) at room temperature for 5 h. The membranes were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric measurements (TG) and degree of grafting (DOG). The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of membranes was determined by acid–base titration and the values for ETFE membranes were achieved higher than Nafion^® films. Preliminary single cell performance was made using pure H₂ and O₂ as reactants at a cell temperature of 80 °C and atmospheric gas pressure. The fuel cell performance of ETFE films was satisfactory when compared to state-of-art Nafion^® membranes.     

Pre-irradiation induced grafting of styrene into crosslinked and non-crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene films for polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications. I: Influence of styrene grafting conditions

Crosslinked and non-crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films [RX-PTFE and V-PTFE films, respectively], were irradiated in air at room temperature using γ-rays from a ⁶⁰Co source. The irradiated films were grafted with styrene in liquid phase. The grafting of styrene into PTFE films was proved by FT-IR spectroscopy. The influence of the reaction temperature and pre-irradiation doses on the resulted degree of grafting was discussed. The grafting speed and the degree of grafting were determined by the reaction temperature and pre-irradiation doses. The apparent activation energies were calculated as 39.7 kJ/mol for RX-PTFE films and 59.5 kJ/mol for V-PTFE films. The dependence index on absorbed doses at pre-irradiation for RX-PTFE films is 0.66, and for V-PTFE films it is 1.57. The geometric size changes of the grafted films were measured and discussed. Interestingly, the thickness of the grafted films was strongly influenced by the reaction temperature. The tensile strength and the elongation at break of the non-grafted and grafted RX-PTFE and V-PTFE films were measured. The grafted films then are sulfonated by chlorosulfonic acid for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) applications and the highest IEC value gained is over 3. The analysis of the sulfonated films are now in progress.     

Non-fluorinated proton-exchange membranes based on melt extruded SEBS/HDPE blends

This paper reports on functional polymer blends prepared by melt-processing technologies for proton-exchange membrane applications. Styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were melt blended using twin-screw compounding, extruded into thin films by extrusion–calendering. The films were then grafted with sulfonic acid moieties to obtain ionic conductivity leading to proton-exchange membranes. The effect of blend composition and sulfonation time was investigated. The samples were characterized in terms of morphology, microstructure, thermo-mechanical properties and in terms of their conductivity, ion exchange capacity (IEC) and water uptake in an effort to relate the blend microstructure to the membrane properties. The HDPE was found to be present in the form of elongated structures which created an anisotropic structure especially at lower concentrations. The HDPE increased the membrane mechanical properties and restricted swelling, water uptake and methanol crossover. Room temperature through-plane conductivities of the investigated membranes were up to 4.5E−02 S cm⁻¹ at 100% relative humidity, with an ionic exchange capacity of 1.63 meq g⁻¹.     

马来酸酐-苯乙烯多组分单体熔融接枝高密度聚乙烯机理及性能研究

用单螺杆挤出机制备了马来酸酐-苯乙烯(MAH-St)多单体熔融接枝高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)体系,研究发现添加St共同接枝,可以显著提高接枝物的接枝率.随着St的增加,接枝率先增大后有所降低.当两种单体物质的量比约为1:1时,接枝物的接枝率最高,此时接枝物的熔体流动速率(MFR)最小.即MAH接枝率越高,接枝物的MFR越...     

Pervaporation with chitosan membranes II. Blend membranes of chitosan and polyacrylic acid and comparison of homogeneous and composite membrane based on polyelectrolyte complexes of chitosan and polyacrylic acid for the separation of ethanol-water mixtures

Three different types of blend membranes based on chitosan and polyacrylic acid were prepared from homogeneous polymer solution and their performance on the pervaporation separation of water-ethanol mixtures was investigated. It was found that all membranes are highly water-selective. The temperature dependence of membrane permselectivity for the feed solutions of higher water content (>30 wt%) was unusual in that both permeability and separation factor increased with increase in temperature. This phenomenon might be explained from the aspect of activation energy and suggested that the sorption contribution to activation energy of permeation should not always be ignored when strong interaction occurs in the pervaporation membrane system.A comparison of pervaporation performance between composite and homogeneous membranes was also studied. Typical pervaporation results at 30°C for a 95 wt% ethanol aqueous solution were: for the homogeneous membrane, permeation flux = 33 g/m² h, separation factor = 2216; and for the composite membrane, permeation flux = 132 g/m² h, separation factor = 1008. A transport model consisting of dense layer and porous substrate in series was developed to describe the effect of porous substrate on pervaporation performance.     

Preparation of cation-exchange membrane containing bi-functional groups by radiation induced grafting of acrylic acid and sodium styrene sulfonate onto HDPE: Influence of the synthesis conditions

Electron beam radiation induced grafting of acrylic acid (AA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) onto high-density polyethylene (HDPE) membranes was investigated by the pre-irradiation method, and a cation-exchange membrane containing bifunctional groups was synthesized. The effects of grafting conditions such as monomer concentration, radiation dose and temperature on grafting yield were studied. The dependence of grafting yield on pre-irradiation dose and monomer concentration was found to be 0.54 and 2.21, respectively. The activation energy for the grafting was calculated to be 22.2 kJ/mol. Infrared spectroscopy analysis of the grafted membrane confirmed the existence of sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups.     

Surface structures of fluoropolymer,polyolefin and polyester films after modification by graft polymerization

Pristine and argon plasma pretreated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly(ethylene terrephthalate) (PET) films have been subjected to near-UV light-induced graft polymerization with water-soluble acrylamide (AAm), the sodium salt of styrene sulfonic acid (NaSS), acrylic acid (AAc) and N,N-dimethylaminoethylmethylacrylate (DMAEMA) monomers. The structure and composition at the substrate surface with grafted polymer were studied by angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In most cases, the density of surface grafting is enhanced by plasma pretreatment. For each polymer substrate with a substantial amount of grafting, the hydrophilic graft penetrates or becomes partially submerged beneath a thin surface layer of dense substrate chains. This stratified microstructure is consistent with the static secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and Ar⁺ beam depth profiling results. The two latter techniques also suggest that when the grafted polymer has a bulky substituent, there is less efficient penetration of the grafted polymer below the surface.     

Pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol with chitosan membranes

Homogeneous and composite chitosan based membranes were prepared by the solution casting technique. The membranes were investigated for the pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol-water systems. The effects of feed concentration and temperature on the separation performance of the membranes were studied. In terms of the pervaporation separation index (PSI), the composite membrane was more productive than the homogeneous membrane for pervaporation of feed with high isopropanol content. It was observed that permeation increased and the separation factor decreased with the temperature. Modification of the homogeneous chitosan membrane by chemical crosslinking with hexamethylene diisocyanate improved the permselectivity but reduced the permeation rate of the membrane.