In natural gas and biogas sweetening as well as in post-combustion carbon capture, CO2-selective gas separation membranes present a promising alternative to the well established, but energy-demanding amine scrubbing process. In an attempt to develop new CO2-selective membrane materials for low-CO2-partial pressure applications, a series of polyelectrolytes was prepared via post-polymerization treatment of polystyrene derivatives. As a key material property for the task, CO2 loading capacity of the material was measured as a function of the cation species and as a function of electron-donating substituent groups at the phenyl ring. ATR-IR and 13C MAS NMR spectroscopy confirmed chemisorption of CO2via formation of a carbonate complex. The introduction of a sterically demanding co-monomer proved to suppress the formation of crystalline domains in the material, enhancing both CO2 absorption capacity and mechanical coating stability. The polyelectrolytes reached high and reversible CO2 absorption capacity at 35 �C and 1 bar CO2 pressure, making them promising candidates for CO2-selective polymeric membrane materials. Coatings of the polyelectrolytes atop of a membrane support exhibited good adhesion and homogeneity as well as competitive ideal CO2/N2 permeability selectivity.

New polyelectrolytes for CO<sub>2</sub>-separation membranes

248th National Meeting (2014)

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New polyelectrolytes for CO2-separation membranes

New polyelectrolytes for CO₂-separation membranes