Carbon molecular sieve membranes and methods for using the same

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane includes forming one or more hollow fibers, the one or more hollow fibers including a polyvinylidene chloride copolymer; exposing the one or more hollow fibers to a caustic solution, wherein the caustic solution includes a strong base and a solvent; applying a tension at opposite ends of the one or more hollow fibers, thereby maintaining the one or more hollow fibers in a straight shape; pretreating the one or more hollow fibers under the tension by heating at a first temperature of from 120° C. to 200° C. with air, an inert gas, or combinations thereof; pyrolyzing the one or more hollow fibers at a second temperature of from 500° C. to 1500° C. with inert gas; and bundling the one or more hollow fibers to form the CMS membrane.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.