(3e) Barriers, Hollow Fiber Membranes, and Hybrid Sorbents: A Path to Energy Efficient Technology

The understanding of gas/vapor transport in polymeric membranes can be applied for many applications: barrier material development, membrane based gas separation, and hybrid sorbent development. In fact, all of these applications are related to the same fundamental principle, the sorption-diffusion mechanism. The benefits to our society of doing research in these areas are enormous in terms of the environment as well as energy. As for barrier material development, the barrier properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate), the current state of the art, can be significantly improved by the combination of antiplasticization and crystallization for the next generation packaging industry. Furthermore, the effect of flavor molecules on the barrier properties of PET can be evaluated by using a vapor/gas permeation system installed with a highly accurate syringe pump. Membranes have also been utilized for separations involving gaseous feed streams and their industrial growth will be driven by the application of membrane based separations to increasingly aggressive feed streams. The performance of defect-free Matrimid® asymmetric hollow fiber membranes in the presence of high pressure carbon dioxide and trace levels of toluene and n-heptane in the feed was studied. Lastly, a novel class of carbon capture system is being developed via hollow fiber-supported ionic liquid sorbents. Our emergent catch-and-release system has the potential to considerably cut the cost and energy associated with gas uptake and release. All the scientific advances mentioned above will lead our society to a technological leader in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.