Emulsion Pathways to Composite Polymeric Membranes for Separation Processes

在这个项目中，研究人员提出了一个系统的 一种新型分离膜的评价 流程. 拟议工作的主要新颖方面是 通过两种单体的聚合形成膜， 彼此不溶，一个分散在另一个里面， 将分散体压在玻璃板之间。 当非常 使用高体积分数的分散相单体 乳液由分散相的多面体组成 被连续相薄层分离的单体 单体的 主要申请须由 这种新型膜是将一种溶剂从其 在另一种溶剂中的溶液，尽管其他应用 当然有可能。 选择分散的聚合物，使得 它易溶于希望除去的溶剂中 溶剂的混合物，但不溶于溶剂之一 希望保留。 然而，连续相聚合物是 不溶于两种溶剂。 非常薄的薄层 连续相提供非常低传质阻力。 分散相聚合物一旦在溶剂中饱和， 被去除，给出了高选择性和液体状 扩散系数，因此应该有非常高的通量 可获得的。 已经提出了两个例子。 在一个，甲苯是 使用聚苯乙烯膜从环己烷中分离 作为聚合的分散相和聚丙烯酰胺作为聚合的分散相， 聚合的连续相。 第二，水是 使用复合膜从乙醇中分离，其中 聚丙烯酰胺是聚合的分散相， 聚苯乙烯是聚合的连续相。 无论是 新膜给出通量和分离因子 可与其他任何一项技术所取得的最佳成果相媲美。 膜的类型。 这是一项非常新颖和创新的工作 有很大的潜力来引进新一代的 膜。

In this project the investigator proposes a systematic evaluation of a new-type of membrane to be used in separations processes. The principal novel aspect of the proposed work is formation of the membrane by polymerization of two monomers, mutually insoluble, one dispersed inside the other, after the dispersion has been pressed between glass plates. When very high volume fractions of the dispersed phase monomer are used the emulsion consists of polyhedra of the dispersed phase monomer separated by thin lamella of the continuous phase monomer. The principal application which is to be made of this new type membrane is to separate one solvent from its solution in another solvent, though other applications are certainly possible. The dispersed polymer is chosen so that it is readily soluble in the solvent one wishes to remove from a mixture of solvents, but is insoluble in the solvent one wishes to retain. The continuous phase polymer, however, is insoluble in both solvents. The very thin lamella of the continuous phase offer a very low mass transfer resistance. The dispersed phase polymer, once saturated in the solvent to be removed, gives both high selectivity and liquid-like diffusion coefficients, so that very high fluxes should be obtainable. Two examples have been presented. In one, toluene is separated from cyclohexane using a membrane with polystyrene as the polymerized dispersed phase and polyacrylamide as the polymerized continuous phase. In the second, water is separated from ethanol using a composite membrane in which polyacrylamide is the polymerized dispersed phase and polystyrene is the polymerized continuous phase. In both examples the new membranes give fluxes and separation factors comparable to the best that has been achieved with any other type of membrane. This is highly novel and innovative work with great potential for introducing a whole new generation of membranes.