Methods for preparing microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membranes

A process for preparing a microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane, the process comprising:

• extruding a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) polymer to a thickness from 10 μm to 1,000 μm to form an extruded polymeric microcapillary film, wherein the extruded polymeric microcapillary film comprises a first end, a second end, and one or more microcapillaries extending from the first end to the second end;
• pre-treating the extruded polymeric microcapillary film at a temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. for a time from 1 hour to 48 hours to form a pre-treated polymeric microcapillary film;
• and
• pyrolizing the pre-treated polymeric microcapillary film at a temperature from 200° C. to 1,500° C. for a time from 15 minutes to 5 hours to form the microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane, wherein
• the microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane comprises micropores having an average micropore size from 3 Å to 5 Å,
• the one or more microcapillaries each have a diameter from 1 μm to 500 μm, and
• the microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane is a sheet membrane.

A process for preparing a microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane, the process comprising:

• extruding a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) polymer to a thickness from 10 μm to 1,000 μm to form an extruded polymeric microcapillary film, wherein the extruded polymeric microcapillary film comprises a first end having a generally rectangular shape, a second end having a generally rectangular shape, and one or more microcapillaries extending from the first end to the second end;
• pre-treating the extruded polymeric microcapillary film at a temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. for a time from 1 hour to 48 hours to form a pre-treated polymeric microcapillary film;
• and
• pyrolizing the pre-treated polymeric microcapillary film at a temperature from 200° C. to 1,500° C. for a time from 15 minutes to 5 hours to form the microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane having a flat shape, wherein
• the microcapillary carbon molecular sieve membrane comprises micropores having an average micropore size from 3 Å to 5 Å, and
• the one or more microcapillaries each have a diameter from 1 μm to 500 μm.