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US 4,664,761 AGranted
Electrochemical method and apparatus using proton-conducting polymers
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsJoseph J. Zupancic, Raymond J. Swedo, Sandra L. Petty-Weeks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for performing an electrochemical process involving hydrogen and gaseous compounds capable of dissociating into or combining with hydrogen ions using a solid electrolyte concentration cell. Specific applications are fuel cells for producing an electrical current and separation of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture. A novel proton-conducting membrane comprised of an interpenetrating polymer network serves as the solid electrolyte. For increased strength, a membrane may be composited with or utilized with a porous support.
Claims20
Apparatus for the separation of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture having a component which is capable, in the presence of a catalytic agent, of dissociating to yield hydrogen ions, comprising
- (a) an interpenetrating polymer network membrane which comprises a host polymer blend and a guest polymer, wherein the host polymer blend is comprised of (1) an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acids and sulfuric acid and (2) a component selected from the group consisting of (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(hydroxyethylene), poly(ethyleneimine), poly(acrylic acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), phenol formaldehyde resins, poly(acrylamide), poly(N-substituted acrylamide), poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(N-vinylimidazole), poly(vinyl sulfonic acid), and poly(2-vinylpyridine) and (ii) copolymers having monomer units of (i);
- and wherein the guest polymer is comprised of (1) a monofunctional monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, N-benzylacrylamide, N-ethylmethacrylamide, N-phenylacrylamide and N-phenylmethacrylamide and (2) a difunctional cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of methylenebisacrylamide, N,N-diallylacrylamide, m-xylenebisacrylamide and N,N'-trimethylenebisacrylamide, with the proviso that the monofunctional monomer which is employed to form the guest polymer differs from any of the monomeric repeat units which comprise the organic polymer in the host polymer blend;
- (b) a membrane housing comprising a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber separated by a partition comprising said membrane, said membrane having a first surface in common with the first gas chamber and a second opposing surface in common with the second gas chamber;
- (c) two portions of catalytic agent effective to promote dissociation and combination associated with each particle, one portion in contact with said first surface of said membrane and one portion in contact with said second opposing surface of said membrane;
- and
- (d) means to supply a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen to said first gas chamber.
3 more elements
A method for the separation of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture having a component which is capable, in the presence of a catalytic agent, of dissociating to yield hydrogen ions, said method comprising
- (a) providing an interpenetrating polymer network membrane which comprises a host polymer blend and a guest polymer, wherein the host polymer blend is comprised of (1) an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acids and sulfuric acid and (2) a component selected from the group consisting of (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(hydroxyethylene), poly(ethyleneimine), poly(acrylic acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), phenol formaldehyde resins, poly(acrylamide), poly(N-substituted acrylamide), poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(N-vinylimidazole), poly(vinyl sulfonic acid), and poly(2-vinylpyridine) and (ii) copolymers having monomer units of (i);
- and wherein the guest polymer is comprised of (1) a monofunctional monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, N-benzylacrylamide, N-ethylmethacrylamide, N-phenylacrylamide and N-phenylmethacrylamide and (2) a difunctional cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of methylenebisacrylamide, N,N-diallylacrylamide, m-xylenebisacrylamide and N,N'-trimethylenebisacrylamide, with the proviso that the monofunctional monomer which is employed to form the guest polymer differs from any of the monomeric repeat units which comprise the organic polymer in the host polymer blend, with two portions of catalytic agent effective to promote dissociation and combination being associated with the membrane, one portion in contact with said first surface of said membrane and one portion in contact with said second surface of said membrane;
- and
- (b) contacting said first surface of said membrane with said gaseous mixture while recovering hydrogen formed at said second surface.
1 more element
An apparatus for producing electricity from a fuel gas having as a gaseous component which is capable, in the presence of a catalytic agent, of dissociating to yield hydrogen ions comprising:
- (a) a polymer-blend membrane which comprises an interpenetrating polymer network membrane which comprises a host polymer blend and a guest polymer, wherein the host polymer blend is comprised of (1) an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acids and sulfuric acid and (2) a component selected from the group consisting of (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(hydroxyethylene), poly(ethyleneimine), poly(acrylic acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), phenol formaldehyde resins, poly(acrylamide), poly(N-substituted acrylamide), poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(N-vinylimidazole), poly(vinyl sulfonic acid), and poly(2-vinylpyridine) and (ii) copolymers having monomer units of (i);
- and wherein the guest polymer is comprised of (1) a monofunctional monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, N-benzylacrylamide, N-ethylmethacrylamide, N-phenylacrylamide and N-phenylmethacrylamide and (2) a difunctional cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of methylenebisacrylamide, N,N-diallylacrylamide, m-xylenesbisacrylamide and N,N'-trimethylenebisacrylamide, with the proviso that the monofunctional monomer which is employed to form the guest polymer differs from any of the monomeric repeat units which comprise the organic polymer in the host polymer blend;
- (b) a membrane housing comprising a first fuel gas chamber and a second oxidant gas chamber separated by a partition comprising said membrane, said membrane having a first surface in common with the first fuel gas chamber and a second opposing surface in common with the second oxidant gas chamber;
- (c) two separate portions of catalytic agent effective to promote dissociation and combination, a first portion in contact with said first surface of said membrane and a second portion in contact with said second surface of said membrane;
- (d) means for forming electrical connection in operative contact with said catalytic agent at said first surface and with said catalytic agent at said second surface;
- (e) means to supply fuel gas to said fuel gas chamber;
- and
- (f) means to supply oxidant gas to said oxidant gas chamber.
5 more elements
A method for accomplishing an electrochemical process using a gaseous mixture having a gaseous component which is capable, in the presence of a catalytic agent, of dissociating to yield hydrogen ions, such method comprising the steps of
- (a) providing a polymer-blend membrane which comprises an interpenetrating polymer network membrane which comprises a host polymer blend and a guest polymer, wherein the host polymer blend is comprised of (1) an acid selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acids and sulfuric acid and (2) a component selected from the group consisting of (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(hydroxyethylene), poly(ethyleneimine), poly(acrylic acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), phenol formaldehyde resins, poly(acrylamide), poly(N-substituted acrylamide), poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(N-vinylimidazole), poly(vinyl sulfonic acid), and poly(2-vinylpyridine) and (ii) copolymers having monomer units of (i);
- and wherein the guest polymer is comprised of (1) a monofunctional monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, N-benzylacrylamide, N-ethylmethacrylamide, N-phenylacrylamide and N-phenylmethacrylamide and (2) a difunctional cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of methylenebisacrylamide, N,N-diallylacrylamide, m-xylenebisacrylamide and N,N'-trimethylenebisacrylamide, with the proviso that the monofunctional monomer which is employed to form the guest polymer differs from any of the monomeric repeat units which comprise the organic polymer in the host polymer blend, with two portions of catalytic agent effective to promote dissociation and combination being associated with the membrane, one portion in contact with said first surface of said membrane and one portion in contact with said second surface of said membrane;
- (b) forming an electrical connection between said separate portions of catalytic agent;
- and
- (c) contacting said first surface of said membrane with said gaseous mixture while isolating said gaseous mixture from a second gas comprising hydrogen compounds formed at said second surface during said contacting step.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.