Separation of VOCs from nitrogen stream using segmented urethane block copolymer membranes with different soft segments

Urethane block copolymers, containing soft segments such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytertramethylene glycol(PTMG) and PEO-PPO-PEO (Poloxamer) block copolymer, were synthesized and examined for th vapor- phase separation of toluene from nitrogen stream by using vapor permeation equipment. Generally permeabilities of PTMG and PDMS based urethane membranes were higher than those of Poloxamer based urethane membranes. Organic vapor permeability in the PDMS and PTMG soft segment urethane membranes were greater than those measured in the Poloxamer films, due to more polymer swelling. The membranes performed best with toluene, with toluene/dry N2 seletivities ranging from 120~200 and permeablilities as high as 23$\times$10-9 mol/m2sPa for saturated toluene feeds at 23$^{\circ}C$.