Crosslinked and crosslinkable hollow fiber mixed matrix membrane and method of making same

US6755900B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. · US
• UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM · US

Inventors

• William J. Koros · Atlanta, US
• David A. Wallace · Los Angeles, US
• John D. Wind · Berkeley, US
• Stephen J. Miller · San Francisco, US
• Claudia Staudt-Bickel · Heidelberg, DE
• De Vu · Bakersfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2002
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2004
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S55/05
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A composition of and a method of making high performance mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes is described. The membranes have a high resistance to plasticization by use of a predetermined amount of crosslinking. The preferred polymer material for the membrane is a polyimide polymer continuous phase comprising ester crosslinks and a molecular sieve material dispersed within the polymer continuous phase. The resultant mixed matrix hollow fiber membrane exhibits a high permeance of CO2 in combination with a high CO2/CH4 selectivity. Another embodiment provides a method of making the mixed matrix hollow fiber membrane from a monesterified polymer followed by final crosslinking after hollow fiber formation.