Method for recycling ion conducting membranes
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsYuyan Shao, Litao Yan, Bingbin Wu
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method for dissolving ion exchange membranes to provide dissolved polymers, particularly at low temperatures and/or pressures, that can be recast to regenerate ion exchange membranes exhibiting reduced defects compared to the initial ion exchange membrane. In some aspects of the disclosure, the polymer exchange membranes include a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer. In some aspects of the disclosure, the method involves dissolving the membranes in one or more aprotic solvents, particularly at temperatures below 80° C.
Claims20
A method for recycling an ion exchange membrane, comprising:
- exposing a first ion exchange membrane comprising a polymer to a solvent at a temperature of no greater than 80° C.;
- dissolving the first ion exchange membrane to form a polymer dispersion;
- and
- recasting the polymer dispersion to form a recycled ion exchange membrane.
A method, comprising:
- exposing a first ion exchange membrane comprising a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer to a polar, aprotic solvent at a temperature ranging from 30° C. to 60° C.;
- dissolving the first ion exchange membrane to form a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer dispersion;
- and
- recasting the perfluorosulfonic acid polymer dispersion to form a recycled ion exchange membrane exhibiting reduced defects as compared to the first ion exchange membrane.
A device, comprising:
- a positive electrode;
- a negative electrode;
- a recycled polymer membrane disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the recycled polymer membrane is obtained by exposing a first ion exchange membrane comprising a polymer to a solvent at a temperature of no greater than 80° C., dissolving the first ion exchange membrane to form a polymer dispersion, and recasting the polymer dispersion to form the recycled ion exchange membrane;
- and
- an electrical load in electrical communication with the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.