Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are an emerging class of polymers that have been of significant interest for a variety of separations due to their favorable permeability and selectivity. High free volume polymers like PIMs are typically soaked in methanol and dried before permeation and sorption analysis to remove any processing history effects and to improve experimental reproducibility. This methanol preconditioning step is thought to remove residual trapped solvent in the micropores as well as erase the past thermal processing history. While few studies have investigated this process in great detail, this work examines methanol treatments as a means to reverse the effects of organic solvent exposure on PIM-1. Gravimetric vapor sorption analysis is used to determine the diffusion coefficients of organics in neat PIM-1. Thermogravimetric analysis, surface area, and pore volume analysis are used to determine the efficacy of methanol treatments at removing residual solvent from the polymer.

Sorption and diffusion of organic vapors into PIM-1 and the effects of methanol conditioning

251st National Meeting (2016)

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