Facilitated gas enrichment membrane composites and a process for the preparation thereof
AssigneeAllied Corporation
InventorsJoseph J. Zupancic, Raymond J. Swedo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Facilitated gas enrichment membrane composites which are utilized in the separation of gases or gas enrichment of a gas mixture will comprise an organometallic compound which acts as a gas carrier interdispersed in an interpenetrating polymer network matrix. The network matrix which comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate-capped polymer physically entwined with a nitrogen-containing compound will be nonacidic and hydrophobic in nature.
Claims22
A facilitated gas enrichment membrane composite which comprises an organometallic gas carrier interdispersed within an interpenetrating polymer network matrix, said interpenetrating polymer network matrix being comprised of ( 1) an isocyanate-capped polymer physically entwined with (2) a nitrogen-containing polymer, said component (1) being physically entwined with component (2) by means of a substituted polyurea, said polyurea being formed by the curing of said membrane at a temperature in the range of from about ambient to about 100.degree. C. in an atmosphere which possesses relative humidity in the range of from about 0% to about 100% for a period of time sufficient to generate an amine-capped polymer by the hydrolysis of a portion of said isocyanate-capped polymer, with said amine-capped polymer subsequently reacting with a portion of the isocyanate groups present in said membrane to form a substituted polyurea which serves to physically entwine said component (2) in said membrane, said organometallic gas carrier being interdispersed within said interpenetrating polymer network, capable of reversible reaction with oxygen or other gases and comprising a transition metal complexed with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of porphyrins, phthalocyanines, derivatives thereof and phosphorus complexes.
A process for the production of a facilitated gas enrichment membrane composite comprised of an organometallic gas carrier interdispersed within an interpenetrating polymer network matrix, which process comprises admixing an isocyanate-capped polymer with a nitrogen-containing polymer in a mutually miscible solvent together with an organometallic gas carrier capable of reversible reaction with oxygen or other gases and comprising a transition metal complexed with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of porphyrins, phthalocyanines, derivatives thereof and phosphorus complexes to form an interpenetrating polymer network membrane having said organometallic gas carrier interdispersed therein, casting said membrane on a porous backing support material, curing the resultant composite at a temperature in the range of from about ambient to about 100.degree. C. in an atmosphere which possesses a relative humidity in the range of from about 0% to about 100% for a period of time sufficient to generate an amine-capped polymer by the hydrolysis of a portion of said isocyanate-capped polymer, with said amine-capped polymer subsequently reacting with a portion of the isocyanate groups present in said membrane to form a substituted polyurea which serves to physically entwine said nitrogen-containing polymer in said membrane, and recovering the resultant composite interpenetrating polymer network membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.