• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.09a
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• pp.21-22
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• 1995

Gas separation science and technology is among the most rapidly growing areas involving membrane-based processes. Nitrogen enrichment of air, hydrogen recovery from a broad array of stream types, and removal of acid gases from natural gases are typical of the applications in this field. Great progress has been made in the discovery of guidelines optimization of polymer structures with simultaneously high permeabilities and selectivities for these important gas pairs. The development of thin-skinned asymmetric hollow fibers have also provided structures with extremely high permeation fluxes. Especially in the case of O$_{2}$/N$_{2}$ separations, the rate of improvements in new polymeric materials for gas separations appears to be slowing to a halt. Evidence will be presented, however, that the practical tradeoff between membrane permeability and selectivity has not been reached.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.404-416
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• 2021

In this study, a mixed matrix membrane was prepared by varying the contents of GO and PEI-GO synthesized in PEBAX2533, and the permeation characteristics of N₂ and CO₂ were studied. The N₂ and CO₂ permeability of the PEBAX/GO mixed membrane decreased as the GO content increased, and showed the highest CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 58.9 at GO 0.3 wt%. For the PEBAX/PEI-GO mixed membrane, the N₂ permeability decreased as the PEI-GO content increased, and the CO₂ permeability showed a different trend according to the PEI-GO content. Overall, the CO₂/N₂ selectivity was higher than that of the PEBAX/GO mixed membrane. In particular, PEI-GO 0.3 wt% showed the highest CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 73.5 among the mixed membranes, and a positive result was obtained as it was located above the Robeson upper bound. This is believed to be due to the molecular sieving channel effect resulting from the original GO structure, the functional groups present in the structure of GO having affinity for CO₂, and the effect of amine bound to PEI by modifying GO into PEI.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2007

Membrane-based separation processes are receiving increasing attention in the scientific community and industry since they provide a desirable alternative to processes that are not easy to achieve by conventional separation technologies. In particular, gas separation using polymeric membranes have annually grown so fast owing to advantages such as easy installation, no moving parts, small footprint and low energy process. The key element is definitely a polymer membrane exhibiting high permeability and high selectivity to compete with other gas separation technologies. Current polymer membranes used for commercial gas separation are a family of hydrocarbon polymers for hydrogen separation, air separation and carbon dioxide separation from natural gas sweetening. Relatively, gas or vapor separation properties of fluoropolymers are not known so much as compared with those of hydrocarbon polymers. Accordingly, in this study, membranes prepared from amorphous perfluoropolymers are of particular interest because of the unique properties of these polymers. The advantages offered by these amorphous perfluoropolymers for use in gas and vapor separation will be discussed. In addition, membrane properties and separation performance will be compared with other membranes available on the market.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2008

In this study, PTMSP of high permeability and high molecular weight was synthesized, and PTMSP-PDMS graft copolymer was synthesized from poly [1-(trimethylsily)propyne] (PTMSP) and hydroxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The PTMSP-PDMS-silica composites were prepared by the addition of 15, 30, or 50 wt% tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) to PTMSP-PDMS graft copolymer by sol-gel process. To investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of PTMSP-PDMS-silica/PEI composite membranes, the analytical methods such as $^1H$-NMR, FT-IR, TGA, XPS, GPC, and SEM have been utilized. The gas permeability and selectivity properties of $H_2,\;O_2,\;N_2,\;CO_2,\;CH_4,\;n-C_4H_{10}$, were evaluated. Permeability of the composite membranes increased as TEOS content and pressure increased. Selectivity of $H_2,\;O_2,\;N_2,\;CO_2,\;CH_4,\;and\;n-C_4H_{10}$, showed the maximum value at 30 wt% of TEOS content and decreased thereafter.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2001

The permeation properties of $O_2\;and\;N_2$ were measured for bromobisphenol A polysulfone(BPSf), bisphenol A trimethylsilylated polysulfone(TMSPSf) and their blend membrane to investigate the structure-properties relationships. BPSf shows relatively high permselectivity. It can be explained that the strong polarity of bromine in BPSf increases chain packing ability. In this case the distance of polymer chains is reduced by increasing of interchain interaction by induced dipole. TMSPSf shows relatively high permeability. The higher value of permeability coefficients for TMSPSf is due to the substitution of very bulky trimethylsilyl groups. The replacement of phenyl hydrogens of bisphenol A polysulfone(PSf) with trimethylsilyl groups results in higher fractional free volume(FFV). In this work, taking into account the complimentary features of BPSf and TMSPSf, BPSf/TMSPSf blend was prepared and the compatibility in mixing are examined. The BPSf/TMSPSf blend shows higher permeability than commercial PSf, with minimum loss of selectivity. The miscibility of the BPSf/TMSPSf blend is confirmed by the single glass transition temperature.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2010

This study deals with the surface fluorination of poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) with the direct contact of 100 ppm fluorine gas. To characterize the surface fluorinated membranes, the contac angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron microscopy analysis and the gas permeation experiments were performed. As the fluorination time increases, the hydrophobicity of membrane surfaces is increased by the surface characterization. In general, as expected, the overall gas permeability was reduced. Typically, the permeability reduction of 33% for nitrogen, 23% for oxygen and 3% for carbon dioxide were observed when the membranes were exposed in 100 ppm environment for 60 min., meanwhile the selectivity was increased from 3.92 to 4.47 for $O_2/N_2$ and 18.09 to 25.4 for $O_2/N_2$, respectively.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

To enhance the transport properties of gas separation membrane, we prepared 6FDA-6FpDA based polyimide membrane with PMMA-graft-silica nanoparticles. The silica was grafted PMMA which is miscible with 6FDA-based polyimide after surface treatment by 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane ($\gamma$-MPS). The untreated silica/6FDA-6FpDA membrane showed greater permeability and less selectivity than PMMA-g-silica/6FDA-6FpDA due to its low dispersion. The transport properties of PMMA-g-silica/6FDA-GFpDA membrane were measured as a function of filler concentration. These membranes were evaluated using pure gases (He, $O_2$, $N_2$, $CO_2$). The increase in permeation was attributed to changes in the free volume distribution until 1 wt%. After 1 wt%, the permeability was decreased by excess silica which decreased effective area in polymer matrix. The selectivity was decreased with increasing permeability on the whole. However, the selectivity of $CO_2$ showed more enhance value.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.460-464
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• 2011

Poly(ether-block-amide)(PEBA, $PEBAX^{TM}$) resin is a thermoplastic elastomer combining linear chains of hard-rigid polyamide block interspaced soft-flexible polyether block. It was believed that the hard polyamide block provides the mechanical strength and permeation selectivity, whereas gas transport occurs primarily through the soft polyether block. The objective of this work was to investigate the gas permeation properties of carbon dioxide and methane for $PEBAX^{TM}$-1657 membrane and compare with those obtained for other grade of $PEBAX^{TM}$, $PEBAX^{TM}$-2533. And the organic/inorganic hybrid membranes were prepared using $PEBAX^{TM}$ and TEOS(tetraethoxysilane) by sol-gel process, and gas permeation properties were studied. $PEBAX^{TM}$-2533 membrane exhibited higher gas permeability coefficients than $PEBAX^{TM}$-1657 membrane. This was explained by the increase of chain mobility. The permeability coefficients for $PEBAX^{TM}$/TEOS hybrid membranes were higher than pure $PEBAX^{TM}$ membranes. This results were explained by the reduction of crystallinity of polyamide block by the introduction of TEOS. Ideal separation factor of hybrid membranes does not change much. This might be due to the increase of solubility selectivity.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.307-320
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• 2011

Polymeric gas separation membrane is the fastest growing field in membrane separation process. Polymeric gas separation membrane process is competitive compare to cryogenic process and pressure swing adsorption process. Aromatic polymer materials such as polysulfones, polypheneylene oxides, polycarbonates and polyimides have been used for gas separation. Recently, glassy polymer likes polyimide in aromatic polymers has been developed for achievement of high selectivity and permeability coefficients. The accurate understanding on a type and structure of polymer material is very important, because the factor that polymer material affect gas separation property. In the study, trend and the development direction on synthesis and permeation properties of polyimide is confirmed.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.555-560
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• 2008

A series of hydroxyl-group containing polyimides (HPIs) were prepared in order to investigate the structure-gas permeation property relationship. Each polymer membrane had structural characteristics that varied according to the dianhydride monomers. The imidization processes were monitored using spectroscopic and thermog-ravimetric analyses. The single gas permeability of He, $H_2$, $CO_2$, $O_2$, $N_2$ and $CH_4$ were measured and compared in order to determine the effect of the polymer structure and functional -OH groups on the gas transport properties. Surprisingly, the ideal selectivity of $CO_2/CH_4$ and $H_2/CH_4$ increased with increasing level of -OH incorporation, which affected the diffusion of $H_2$ or the solubility of $CO_2$ in HPIs. For $H_2/CH_4$ separation, the difference in the diffusion coefficients of $H_2$ and $CH_4$ was the main factor for improving the performance without showing any changes in the solubility coefficients. However, the solubility coefficient of $CO_2$ in the HPIs increased at least four fold compared with the conventional polyimide membranes depending on the polymer structures. Based on these results, the polymer membranes modified with -OH groups in the polymer backbone showed favorable gas permeation and separation performance.