Molecular Filtration of Hydrocarbon Isomers Through Polymer/[Liquid Crystal] Composite Membranes

Ultrathin membranes of a polymer/(liquid crystal) mixture were prepared by spreading a single drop of a casting solution on the water surface. The thickness and the aggregation state of the water-cast membrane can be controlled by the kind of solvent and the concentration of the solution. In the case of a liquid crystalline state above the crystal-nematic phase transition temperature, T _KN, the polymer (liquid crystal) composite membrane follows Henry's law for the sorption isotherm of hydrocarbon gases and, also, Fickian sorption for the sorption-desorption kinetics. These results indicate that hydrocarbon gases permeate through a homogeneous medium composed of liquid crystalline molecules. Therefore, the permeability coefficients of hydrocarbon gases can be controlled by the dimensions of the channels through which the gas molecules diffuse. The channel for diffusion is generated by thermal or fluctuating molecular motion which opens up the intermolecular distance between liquid crystalline molecules. In the case of a self-supported liquid crystalline membrane, the channel dimension can be controlled in the range of several Å by both the intermolecular distance and the degree of thermal molecular motion of the liquid crystalline molecules. Separation of hydrocarbon isomers was investigated by use of composite membranes composed of a polymer matrix and self-supported liquid crystalline molecules.     

Changes of electrochemical responses of the bulk solution species by thermotropic permeability of liquid crystalline membranes coated on electrodes

Liquid crystalline/polymer composite membrane-coated electrodes were prepared by casting a 1,2-dichloroethane solution of N-(4-ethoxybenzylidene)-4′-n-butylaniline (EBBA) and polycarbonate (PC) on an electrode surface. The temperature-dependence of the permeability of the EBBA/PC composite membrane on electrodes to Fe(CN)^3?₆ ion as a solution-phase redox ion was investigated by means of hydrodynamic voltammetry at a rotating disk electrode. The permeability changed with temperature over the range of the crystalline-nematic-phase transition temperature of EBBA. It is demonstrated that the observed temperature-dependence of the permeability reflects the thermotropic properties of EBBA in the EBBA/PC composite membrane. Furthermore, the dependence of the limiting current of the steady-state current-potential curves for the reduction of Fe(CN)^—₆ at the EBBA/PC composite membrane-coated electrode upon the membrane thickness, the blend ratio of EBBA and PC and the concentration of Fe(CN)^3?₆ in a bulk solution was examined in order to understand the transport process of Fe(CN)^?3₆ through the EBBA/PC composite membrane from the membrane/solution interface to the electrode/membrane interface. The transport process of Fe(CN)^3?₆ within the membrane was found to obey Fick's Law.     

聚环氧氯丙烷／液晶复合富氧膜的研究

研究了聚环氧氯丙烷(PECHCH)/N(4-乙氧基苄叉)4-丁基苯胺(EBBA)复合膜对氧气和氮气的透过性和选择性。用示差扫描量热计(DSC)、解偏振光强仪(DLI和偏光显微镜考察了复合膜的形态结构。结果表明,当PECH/EBBA复合膜处于液晶的向列相转变温度时,有较高的气体透过性和选择性。发现只有复合膜中EBBA含量在30wt％以上,PECH和EBBA呈非均相混合时,才有较明显的富氧效果。当EBBA含量达50wt%时,氧氮分离系数α=3.78。     

Gas transport in poly [bis(trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene] above the T(1) transition

Gas permeation measurements were performed by the time-lag method for 13 gases in poly [bis(trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene] above the mesophase transition, T (1) transition, of the crystals. Hysteresis was found in the temperature dependence of the permeability coefficients for CO₂, O₂, and N₂ in the transition region as observed by dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry. Independently the solubility of CO₂ was determined gravimetrically above and below T(1). Noticeable change and hysteresis were also observed in the temperature dependence of the solubility coefficients. Diffusion of CO₂ in the measophase is suggested from the permeation and sorption measurements. Gas transport parameters of CO₂ in the mesophase are estimated, and the contributions of the mesophase and the crystalline phase to gas transport are considered.     

Improvement in gas separation properties of a polymeric membrane through the incorporation of inorganic nano‐particles

The present work tries to introduce a high‐performance nano‐composite membrane by using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as its main polymer matrix to meet some specific requirements in industrial gas separations. Different nano‐composite membranes were synthesized by incorporating various amounts of nano‐sized silica particles into the PDMS matrix. A uniform dispersion of nano‐particles in the host membranes was obtained. The nano‐composite membranes were characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Separation properties, permeability, and ideal selectivity of C₃H₈, CH₄, and H₂ through the synthesized nano‐composite membranes with different nano‐particle contents (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 wt%) were investigated at different pressures (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 atm) and constant temperature (35°C). It was found out that a 2 wt% loading of nano‐particles into the PDMS matrix is optimal to obtain the best separation performance. Afterwards, sorption experiments for the synthesized nano‐composite membranes were carried out, and diffusion coefficients of the gases were calculated based on solution‐diffusion mechanism. Gas permeation and sorption experiments showed an increase in sorption and a decrease in diffusion coefficients of the gases through the nano‐composite membranes by adding nano‐particles into the host polymer matrix. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Permeability and morphology of poly(cis‐butadiene)/ester‐ether liquid crystal composite membranes

Various amounts of diethylene glycol bis[4‐(4′‐ethoxybenzoyloxy)benzoate] (DEBEB) were added into a poly(cis‐butadiene) (PB) membrane to improve its gas permeation ability. This type of rubber/liquid crystal (LC) composite membranes showed two obvious characteristics that are different from the gas permeation behavior reported in previous literature: (1) The permeabilities to O₂, N₂, and CO₂ were enhanced at room temperature, for example, the permeabilities for the PB/DEBEB (90/10) membrane were higher above six times than those of PB membrane under the same conditions. It is suggested that the interface microvoids probably existed on pontes between polar crystal domains and nonpolar PB matrix. (2) All relationships between the permeability coefficient (P) and temperature (T) were characterized by N‐shape, that is, there were the peaks and valleys on the P‐T curves. Furthermore, morphology studies demonstrated that when DEBEB content in the membranes was above 10 wt %, it was spherically dispersed and embedded in the PB matrix in a crystal domain state. Gas permeation characteristics of the composite membranes were appropriately interpreted as together influence results of DEBEB phase transition behavior and the membrane morphology. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1833–1840, 2000     

Effect of structure on the temperature dependence of gas transport and sorption in a series of polycarbonates

The permeabilities and solubilities of five gases are reported for bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC), tetramethyl polycarbonate (TMPC), and tetramethyl hexafluoro polycarbonate (TMHFPC) at temperatures up to 200°C. The temperature dependence of permselectivity is discussed in terms of solubility and diffusivity selectivity changes with temperature for CO₂/CH₄ and He/N₂ gas separations. The activation energies for permeation and diffusion and the heats of sorption are also reported for each gas in the three polycarbonates. Analysis of these values provides a better fundamental understanding of the effect of polymer-penetrant interactions and polymer backbone structure on the temperature dependence of the transport and sorption properties of gases in membrane separation processes. Important factors affecting the solubility and diffusivity selectivity losses or gains with increased temperature are also identified through correlation of these data with physical properties of the gases and polymers. These conclusions provide a framework for choosing the most promising membrane materials for particular gas separations at elevated temperatures. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Comparison of short range interactions in nematic liquid crystals A 2H-NMR study of 5CB-d19 as a solute

Previous studies using dideuterium as a solute have demonstrated the importance for orientation of the interaction between the solute molecular quadrupole moment and the average electric field gradient present in liquid crystals. With the aim of learning about additional orientational mechanisms, we have studied the temperature dependence of the ²H-NMR spectra of the liquid crystal 5CB-d₁₉ as the solute in three liquid crystal mixtures: 55 wt % 1132/EBBA, 56·5 wt % 1132/EBBA and 70 wt % 5CB/EBBA. In these mixtures, the contribution from the environment to the average electric field gradient at the ²H nucleus of dideuterium is zero. The spectra of 5CB-d₁₉ in the mixtures 55 wt % 1132/EBBA and 56·5 wt % 1132/EBBA are equivalent, but are different from those in 70 wt % 5CB/EBBA. The spectra of 5CB in 55 wt % 1132/EBBA and 70 wt % 5CB/EBBA are analysed using two different models for the short range potential, and param eters of the models are used to compare the potentials in the different mixtures. For a given spectral splitting of the chain C₁ deuteron, the reduced short range potential is the same in all three mixtures studied. The spectral differences observed are a consequence of different nematic-isotropic phase transition temperatures combined with the effect of trans/gauche-isomerization in the hydrocarbon chain.     

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.     

Gas permeability of polydimethylsiltrimethylene above and below the melting temperature of the crystalline phase

The gas-separation behavior of a semicrystalline polydimethylsiltrimethylene—one of the family of silmethylene rubbers—has been studied. The permeability of O₂, N₂, and CH₄ through this polymer at temperatures below and above the melting temperature of the crystalline phase has been investigated, and the activation energy of permeability has been calculated. The gas permeability of the semicrystalline polydimethylsiltrimethylene depends on the prehistory of the sample. At the melting temperature of crystals, the permeability coefficients of the tested gases increase sharply. The transition of the polymer from the semicrystalline state to the melt leads to an appreciable reduction in the activation energy of permeability.     

Preparation and characterization of a composite PDMS membrane on CA support

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the most commonly used membrane material for the separation of condensable vapors from lighter gases. In this study, a composite PDMS membrane was prepared and its gas permeation properties were investigated at various upstream pressures. A microporous cellulose acetate (CA) support was initially prepared and characterized. Then, PDMS solution, containing crosslinker and catalyst, was cast over the support. Sorption and permeation of C₃H₈, CO₂, CH₄, and H₂ in the prepared composite membrane were measured. Using sorption and permeation data of gases, diffusion coefficients were calculated based on solution‐diffusion mechanism. Similar to other rubbery membranes, the prepared PDMS membrane advantageously exhibited less resistance to permeation of heavier gases, such as C₃H₈, compared to the lighter ones, such as CO₂, CH₄, and H₂. This result was attributed to the very high solubility of larger gas molecules in the hydrocarbon‐based PDMS membrane in spite of their lower diffusion coefficients relative to smaller molecules. Increasing feed pressure increased permeability, solubility, and diffusion coefficients of the heavier gases while decreased those of the lighter ones. At constant temperature (25°C), empirical linear relations were proposed for permeability, solubility, and diffusion coefficients as a function of transmembrane pressure. C₃H₈/gas solubility, diffusivity, and overall selectivities were found to increase with increasing feed pressure. Ideal selectivity values of 9, 30, and 82 for C₃H₈ over CO₂, CH₄, and H₂, respectively, at an upstream pressure of 8 atm, confirmed the outstanding separation performance of the prepared membrane. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Azeotropic-like (congruent melting) phenomena of lamellar liquid crystals

The binary system of water and didecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDeAB), having a double hydrocarbon chain, was found to exhibit exhibit an azeotropic-like phase transition from lamellar liquid crystal to micellar solution. That is, the maximum limiting value of temperatures where the present system is allowed to exist in a lamellar liquid crystal corresponds to the socalled azeotropic point (AZP) or congruent melting point. At this temperature, the compositions of the liquid crystal and micellar solution phases become identical. Upon addition of a small amount of NaBr, the AZP shifts to a high temperature, but the point disappears above 0.375 wt% NaBr in water. The AZP is also increased by adding cholesterol. On the other hand, the transition enthalpies at AZPs are extremely small and almost constant, even if NaBr and cholesterol are added. The sharp DSC peak is observed in the presence of salt, whereas it is broad in the presence of cholesterol. It is considered that salt induces a closely packed state of the liquid crystal phase. Although cholesterol also has an ordering effect on the surfactant aggregates its hydrophobic property increases the phase transition temperature. The phase transition occurs due to a packing change of the hydrocarbon chains of DDeAB molecule from the lamellar to micellar states. The correlation between the movement of AZP and the phase behavior in the presence of salt is also discussed.     

Neutron inelastic scattering spectra and phase transition of 1,2-dichloroethane crystal

Neutron inelastic scattering spectra of 1,2-dichloroethane crystal have been measured at three temperatures above and below 177°K where the crystal undergoes a broad phase transition. Two and three peaks have been observed in the high and low temperature phases, respectively. The frequency distribution g(v) has been calculated in the first Brillouin zone for the low temperature phase and is compared with the observed spectra. The results show that the phase transition at 177°K is associated with rotational motion of the molecule around the axis passing through two chlorine atoms.     

An NMR study on the shielding of the 129Xe isotope of xenon dissolved in thermotropic liquid crystals

The variation of the nuclear shielding of the ¹²⁹Xe isotope in natural xenon dissolved in various liquid crystals and liquid crystal mixtures has been studied over the temperature range from 300 to 360 K. The temperature dependence is linear in the isotropic phase of the liquid crystals. An abrupt change in the shielding is observed when passing through the nematic-isotropic and smectic A-nematic phase transitions as well as when the liquid crystal director rotates by 90° in the so-called critical mixture of ZLI 1167 and EBBA. This is interpreted as being mainly the consequence of the shielding anisotropy of xenon arising from the deformation of its electronic distribution. The shift changes observed for 4,4'-di-n-heptylazoxybenzene at the nematic-isotropic phase transition on the one hand and at the smectic A-nematic phase transition on the other are found to be opposite in sign, reflecting the change in the liquid crystal structure.     

Selective olefin permeation through Ag(I) contained silicone rubber-graft-poly(acrylic acid) membranes

The silicone rubber (SR) based graft copolymer, SR-graft-poly(acrylic acid) (SR-g-AA), was modified by incorporating silver ion (SR-g-AA-Ag⁺) for C₄ olefin/paraffin gases separation. Olefin could be transported across the complex membrane by the silver ion facilitated transport. The permeation properties, as measured by gas chromatography equipped with a gas permeability analyzer, implied a facilitating effect for olefin. Typical trans-2-butene/n-butane selectivity in the 95.6% grafted complex membrane at 25°C is 4.0. Also, the influences of AA% grafting, measuring temperature and pressure to the permeation properties of C₄ gases were studied. In addition, the sorption behaviors of C₄ gases in SR based membranes are presented and discussed by the Flory-Huggins equation. Finally, the selectivity of solubility and diffusivity in these SR based membranes are also discussed.     

Permeation through a single crystal of Zeolite NaX

Steady state permeation through a 120 μm single crystal of zeolite NaX has for the first time been observed. Each crystal was imbedded in an epoxy film, polished to expose opposite faces to feed and permeate gases, and mounted in an apparatus with pmol/s permeation rate sensitivity. Permeation was constrained to occur by an intracrystalline diffusion mechanism, confirmed by temperature dependence and selectivity measurements. Rates decreased at higher temperatures due to opposing sorption and diffusion effects. Intracrystalline butane diffusivity at 25°C was 3 x 10^?4 cm²/sec, in agreement with other methods. Anomalously long time lags for approach to steady state are explained by a transition between two states of the zeolite, differing in permeability by 10²-10⁴. The state with lower permeability was selectively permeable to isobutane from a methaneísobutane mixture.     

Hydrocarbon solubility,permeability, and competitive sorption effects in polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) membranes

The sorption and permeation of pentane, hexane, and toluene through highly permeable polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) membranes were investigated. It was established that the hydrocarbons sorbed strongly within the micro‐void regions of the PIM‐1 membrane. The sorption concentration was similar for the paraffins, pentane and hexane, but greater for aromatic toluene at high vapor activities. The magnitude of the hydrocarbon permeability was associated with the critical temperature of the hydrocarbon. The PIM‐1 membrane displayed selectivity for the three hydrocarbons over CO₂. As a consequence, the presence of the three hydrocarbons dramatically reduced the permeability of CO₂ and N₂ under mixed gas–vapor conditions to 68%–95% below the dry gas value. For all three hydrocarbons the N₂ permeability was more strongly impacted than CO₂ permeability, and hence the ideal CO₂/N₂ selectivity of PIM‐1 increased. It was determined that CO₂ and N₂ solubility decreased because of hydrocarbon competitive sorption while CO₂ and N₂ diffusivity also decreased because of anti‐plasticization, which was due to the presence of hydrocarbon clusters within the membrane structure. There was a clear correlation between the magnitude of anti‐plasticization and the critical temperature of the hydrocarbon. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 397–404     

STUDIES ON THE PERMEABILITY OF P VC/EBBA OVERLAPPED ULTRATHIN COMPOSITE MEMBRANES MODIFIED BY PLASMA-POLYMERIZATION WITH FLUOROCARBON MONOMERS

The PVC/EBBA ultrathin composite membranes with thickness of about 100 nm were prepared by spreading the solution on water surface. The overlapped composite membrane showed a characteristic aggregation structure in which the polymer matrix exists as a three-dimensional spongy network and the liquid crystal domains werc observed. Tne surface modification for the overlapped membranes was carried out by means of plasma-polymerization with the monomers of fluorocarbon compounds. Both Arrhenius plots of permeability coefficients for oxygen ((?)_O_2) in the membrane samples before and after modification showed significant increase in the vicinity of the T_(KN) of EBBA.     

顺丁橡胶／酯－醚液晶复合膜的富氧性能研究

首次制成顺丁橡胶（ＰＢ）与具有二重液晶相转变（近晶相，向列相）的液晶化合物双４－（４’－乙氧基苯甲酰氧基）苯甲酸一缩乙二醇酯（ＤＥＢＥＢ）的复合膜并研究了其富氧性能。ＰＢ／ＤＥＢＥＢ复合膜在液晶含量１０％时，室温下具有比基质聚合物ＰＢ膜大几倍的氧透过系数（ｐｏ２）。透过系数与温度的关系曲线呈现“Ｎ”型特征。这些现象与液晶的二重相变行为和膜的形态结构有关。     

Competitive transport of alkali metal ions from aqueous media into toluene solutions of 2-(sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)-decanoic acid. A comparative study

Competitive permeation of alkali metal ions from an alkaline source phase into or through a toluene phase facilitated by the lipophilic crown ether carboxylic acid 2-(symdibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)-decanoic acid is studied in liquid—liquid extraction, bulk liquid membrane transport, and emulsion liquid membrane transport. Most rapid transport was obtained in emulsion liquid membrane experiments. Some differences in selectivity orders for alkali metal permeation were observed for the three separation techniques.