(354c) “Click”-Crosslinkable CO2-Philic Crosslinking of Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) Based Membranes for Natural Gas Separations | AIChE

(354c) “Click”-Crosslinkable CO2-Philic Crosslinking of Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) Based Membranes for Natural Gas Separations

Authors 

Yang, J., Aramco Services Company
Li, S., Aramco Services Co
Liu, Y., Aramco Americas
Sharber, S., Aramco Americas
Processing sub-quality natural gas remains an economic and environmental challenge, especially as natural gas demand increases. Toxic and/or corrosive sour gas contaminants, such as H2S and CO2, must be removed from methane (CH4) to meet pipeline specifications. Gas separation membrane technology offers a low-cost alternative to traditionally energy-intensive adsorption-based separations. This work describes a route towards improving the CO2 separation performance of high-performing poly(ethylene glycol) rubbery membrane by incorporation of CO2-philic crosslinkers. Novel “click” crosslinkable CO2-philic melamine derivative using as a crosslinker was functionalized by a typically unreactive melamine molecule with reactive alkyne moieties. A series of hydrophilic networks of highly crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) rubbery membranes were cased directly on top of membrane supports via a reaction of this click crosslinker with different molecular weight PEG-azides through alkyne-azide click chemistry that enable discrete interactions with sour gas species. The effect of molecular weight of PEG-azides on the membrane physical and transport properties was investigated. Such crosslink-engineered PEG composition membranes demonstrate enhanced CO2/CH4 separation performance compared to PEG crosslinked with a non-CO2-philic crosslinker.