초록

This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition comprising an associating polymer. The polymer coating is characterized as having hard and soft segments where the hard segment comprises TMPA, combined with HDPA. The membrane may utilize a porous substrate.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A copolymer membrane comprising a polyimide membrane hard segment and an aliphatic polyester membrane soft segment, wherein said polyimide membrane hard segment is comprised of at least one anhydride comprising 4,4′ (hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (HPDA

What is claimed is: 1. A copolymer membrane comprising a polyimide membrane hard segment and an aliphatic polyester membrane soft segment, wherein said polyimide membrane hard segment is comprised of at least one anhydride comprising 4,4′ (hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (HPDA), and at least one diamine comprising 1,4-phenylene diamine (TMPA) and wherein the membrane soft segment is comprised of a compound selected from the group consisting of a polyadipate, a polysuccinate, a polymalonate, a polyoxalate, and a polyglutarate. 2. The copolymer membrane of claim 1, wherein the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the membrane soft segment is less than 212° F. (100° C.). 3. The copolymer membrane of claim 2, wherein the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the membrane soft segment is less than 167° F. (75° C.). 4. The copolymer membrane of claim 3, wherein the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the membrane soft segment is less than 122° F. (50° C.). 5. The copolymer membrane of claim 2, wherein the copolymer membrane comprises a polyimide-polyadipate co-polymer cross linked with a diepoxycyclo-octane. 6. The copolymer membrane of claim 1, wherein the polyadipate, the anhydride (HPDA), the 1,4-phenylene diamine (TMPA) and a cross-linking agent are present in molar ratios of about 0.5 to about 1.5, about 1.0 to about 3.0, about 0.5 to about 1.5, or about 1.0 to about 3.0, respectively. 7. The copolymer membrane of claim 6, wherein the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the membrane hard segment is greater than about 212° F. (100° C.). 8. The copolymer membrane of claim 7, wherein the glass transition temperature, Tg, of the membrane hard segment is greater than 248° F. (120° C.). 9. A membrane assembly comprising a housing containing at least one membrane element and at least one support material, wherein the membrane element is comprised of a polyimide hard segment and a soft segment; the polyimide hard segment is comprised of a dianhydride and TMPA and HPDA and the soft segment of the membrane is comprised of a compound selected from the group, consisting of a polyadipate, a polysuccinate, a polymalonate, a polyoxalate, and a polyglutarate. 10. The polymeric membrane assembly of claim 9, wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, aromatic polyamide fibers, porous metals, sintered metals, porous ceramics, porous polyesters, porous nylons, activated carbon fibers, latex, silicones, silicone rubbers, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylidenefluoride, polyurethanes, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polycarbonates, polysulfones, polyphenylene oxides, metal foams, polymer foams, silica, porous glass, mesh screens, and combinations thereof. 11. The polymeric membrane assembly of claim 10, wherein the membrane clement and the support material are contained in a housing configuration selected from flat plate elements, wafer elements, spiral-wound elements, porous monoliths, porous tubes, and hollow fiber elements. 12. The polymeric membrane assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one membrane element is selected from the group consisting of a cross-linking agent selected from diepoxycyclooctane, diepoxyoctane, 1,3-butadiene diepoxide, glycerol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether, and poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether. 13. A method for making a polymeric membrane, comprising: a) reacting a polyethylcneadipate with a anhydride HPDA to form a prepolymer; b) adding diamine TMPA to the prepolymer to form a first solution; c) adding a cross-linking agent to the first solution to form a second solution; d) incorporating the second solution onto a suitable support; and e) curing the second solution to form a membrane having hard and soft segments wherein the soft segments comprises a polyadipate, a polysuccinate, a polymalonate, a polyoxalate, or polyglutanate, or a combination thereof. 14. The method for making the polymeric membrane of claim 13, wherein the polyethyleneadipate, the anhydride HPDA, and the diamine TMPA, and the cross-linking agents are present in molar ratios of about 0.25 to about 2.0, about 0.5 to about 4.0, about 0.25 to about 2.0, or about 0.5 to about 4.0, respectively. 15. The method for making the polymeric membrane of claim 14, wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of diepoxycyclooctane, diepoxyoctane, 1,3-butadiene diepoxide, glycerol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether, and poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether. 16. A process for selectively separating a desired component from a hydrocarbon feedstream, comprising: a) contacting the hydrocarbon feedstream with one side of a polymeric membrane assembly comprised of a housing containing at least one membrane element and at least one support material, wherein the membrane element is comprised of a polyimide hard segment and a soft segment, the polyimide hard segment is comprised of an anhydride HPDA and a diamine TMPA, and the soft segment comprises a polyadipate, a polysuccinate, a polymalonate, a polyoxalate, a polyglutanate, or a combination thereof, and b) retrieving a permeate from the opposite side of the polymeric membrane assembly; wherein the concentration by wt % of the desired component in the permeate stream is higher than the concentration by wt % of the desired component in the hydrocarbon feedstream. 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the desired component is an aromatic compound. 18. The process of claim 17, wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, aromatic polyamide fibers, porous metals, sintered metals, porous ceramics, porous polyester, porous nylon, activated carbon fibers, latex, silicone, silicone rubber, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylidenefluoride, polyurethanes, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polycarbonates, polysulfones, and polyphenylene oxides, metal foams, polymer foams, silica, porous glass, mesh screens, and combinations thereof. 19. The process of claim 18, wherein the membrane element and the support material are contained in a housing configuration selected from flat plate elements, wafer dements, spiral-wound elements, porous monoliths, porous tubes, and hollow fiber elements. 20. The process of claim 16, wherein the desired component is a sulfur heteroatom.