Composites comprising novel RTIL-based polymers, and methods of making and using same

A method of processing a given gas mixture comprising a first gas component and a second gas component, the method comprising:

• (i) providing a membrane or film comprising at least one composition selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) a composition comprising a curable imidazolium-functionalized poly(RTIL) copolymer comprising a plurality of imidazolium-functionalized monomeric units, wherein (100×(1−p))% of the monomeric units comprise a side-chain imidazolium group substituted with a curable group, (100×p) % of the monomeric units comprise a side-chain imidazolium group substituted with a non-curable group, and 0<p<1,
• the copolymer having formula (I),
• wherein:
• A is H, alkyl or substituted alkyl;
• n ranges from 2 to 100,000;
• W is the side chain selected from the group consisting of:
• wherein in (II):
• R is C1-C6 alkylene, C2-C6 alkenylene or C2-C6 alkynylene, wherein R is optionally substituted;
• R1 is NH or O;
• each occurrence of Y is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, benzyl, phenyl, hydroxyl, nitro, halo, —(CH2CH2O)mA and —O(CH2CH2O)mA, wherein m is an integer ranging from 1 to 20, wherein each Y is independently optionally substituted;
• X−is an anion selected from the group consisting of Tf2N−, BF4−, N(CN)2−, PF6−, C(CN)3−, B(CN)4−, N(SO2F)2−, TfO−, SbF6−, halide, sulfonate, and any combinations thereof;
• in (100×(1−p)) % of the monomeric units, Z is the curable group selected from the group comprising vinyl, 1,3-butadienyl, (1,3-butadienyl)-(C1-C6 alkylene), styrenyl, CH2═C(A)C(═O)R;
• (oxiran-2-yl)-R;
• and any combinations thereof;
• and
• in (100×p) % of the monomeric units, Z is the non-curable group selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, benzyl, phenyl, and oligo(ethylene glycol);
• and,
• (b) a composition comprising a RTIL, a step-growth imidazolium-based RTIL monomer and an amine-containing monomer;
• wherein the step-growth imidazolium-based RTIL monomer comprises a compound of formula (IV):
• wherein X−is an anion;
• each occurrence of Z3 is independently C1-C20 alkylene, wherein one or more methylene groups are optionally replaced with —O—;
• and each occurrence of Z2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms,
• wherein the at least one composition is at least partially cured,
• further wherein the membrane or film comprises a feed side and a permeate side, and-is selectively permeable to the first gas component over the second gas component;
• (ii) contacting the given gas mixture with the feed side of the membrane or film;
• and
• (iii) applying a pressure difference across the membrane or film;
• whereby the gas mixture isolated at the permeate side of the membrane or film is enriched for the first gas component over the second gas component as compared to the given gas mixture.