Novel membranes and preparation thereof
AssigneeImperial College Innovations Limited
InventorsAndrew Guy Livingston, Zhiwei Jiang, Ruijiao Dong, Jia Xu, Siyao Li
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Abstract
Novel membranes suitable for use in separation applications are described, as well as processes by which the membranes are made and uses of the membranes in a range of separation applications. The membranes are obtainable by an interfacial polymerisation reaction involving two monomers, in which at least one of the monomers comprises oligomeric portions that are suitable for tuning the separation characteristics of the membrane, particularly in liquid separations, such as organic solvent nanofiltration.
Claims25
An interfacial polymerisation process for the preparation of a thin film membrane, the process comprising the step of reacting a first monomer and a second monomer at the interface of two immiscible liquids to produce a crosslinked polymeric film;
- wherein
- the crosslinked polymeric film is composed of at least one crosslinked polymer;
- and
- at least one of the first monomer and second monomer is a compound of formula (I) shown below:
- T-Q-L-Y-L-Q-T (I)
- in which
- each Q is a chemically-inert oligomer having a predetermined number of repeating units, m;
- Y is a reactive moiety comprising at least 2 groups capable of reacting with the other of the first monomer and second monomer to produce the crosslinked polymeric film;
- each L is a linking moiety through which each Q is covalently bonded to Y;
- and
- each T is a chemically-inert terminating group.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the compound of formula (I) has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of <10
The process of any preceding claim, wherein Y comprises 3-10 reactive groups.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the reactive groups present in Y are independently selected from the group consisting of —NH2, —NH—, —OH and —C(═O)X, wherein X is halo.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein Y is oligomeric having n number of repeating units, and wherein each repeating unit n comprises one of the reactive groups, such that Y has the following structure:
- wherein
- and each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of:
- where R is selected from the group consisting of —(CH2)vOH, —(CH2)vNH2, —(CH2)vC(═O)X and —(CH2)vC(═O)NHNH2, in which v is 0-4 and X is halo.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the compound of formula (I) has a structure according to any of the following:
- wherein T, m, Z and n are as defined in any preceding claim.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the compound of formula (I) has either of the following structures:
- wherein m, n and Z are as defined in any preceding claim.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein only the first monomer is a compound of formula (I) and the second monomer is a polyacylhalide, a polyamine or a polyhydroxy compound.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the step of reacting a first monomer and a second monomer at the interface of two immiscible liquids to produce a crosslinked polymeric film comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing a first solution comprising:
- (i) a first solvent, and
- (ii) the first monomer;
- (b) contacting the first solution with a second solution, the second solution comprising:
- (i) a second solvent, the second solvent being immiscible in the first solvent, and
- (ii) the second monomer;
- wherein reaction of the first monomer with the second monomer in step (b) results in the formation of the crosslinked polymeric film at the interface of the first solvent and the second solvent.
A thin film membrane obtained, directly obtained or obtainable by the process of any preceding claim.
A thin film membrane comprising a plurality of interconnected moieties, each of formula (Ia), linked to one another to provide a crosslinked polymer:
- T-Q-L-Ya-L-Q-T (Ia)
- in which
- each Q is a chemically-inert oligomer having a predetermined number of repeating units, m;
- each L is a linking moiety through which each Q is covalently bonded to Ya;
- each T is a chemically-inert terminating group;
- and
- Ya is a group comprising at least two crosslinking moieties Za, wherein each crosslinking moiety Za links one moiety of formula (Ia) to another moiety of formula (Ia).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.