Solvent-Free Coating of Epoxysilicones for the Fabrication of Composite Membranes

Abstract

Solventless coated epoxysilicone composite membranes have been prepared from a UV curable epoxysilicone polymer for organic solvent nanoltration. Coatings were conducted solventless on a roll-to-roll pilot line using a forward gravure coating technique, and applied on a polyacrylonitrile or crosslinked polyetherimide support. Crosslinking of the polyetherimide support membrane with propanediamine enhanced the adhesion properties of the epoxysilicone selective layer. Penetration of the coating solution into the porous support membrane was conrmed using SEM-EDS. Membranes fabricated using two dierent gravure heads have been studied, with sub micron siloxane layer thicknesses achieved. The separation performance of the membranes is observed to be independent of the thickness. It has been possible to achieve membranes with MWCO < 500 g mol −1 in hydrocarbon solvents. Benets of the fabrication include the ability to UV crosslink under air, elimination of solvent based coating, and the feasibility of achieving uniform, sub micron coatings at large scale manufacturing. These membranes comprise a further step towards greener and safer membrane production.

Low energy intensity production of fuel-grade bio-butanol enabled by membrane-based extraction

“…S3 and Section S3, ESI †). [28][29][30][31][32] Performance of the fabricated membranes was investigated using a crossflow system with pure water and 2EH flowing counter-currently at 1.0 L min À1 (0.16 m s À1 ) ( Fig. S4, ESI †).…”

“…(g) Threshold (phase breakthrough) pressures of the ÂSPAES membrane were measured with a dead-end filtration apparatus separately for each solvent with nitrogen gas (Section S3, ESI †). [28][29][30][31][32]…”

Spray‐coatedPDMS/PVDFcomposite membrane for enhanced butanol recovery by pervaporation

“…Poly[(3,3,3‐trifluoropropyl)methylsiloxane] PV membrane prepared with water as solvent exhibited a high membrane flux and furfural separation factor 50 . PDMS PV membranes could be prepared with a solventless procedure under UV radiation 51,52 . PDMS/ZSM‐5 composite membranes prepared via solvent‐free twin‐screw compounding and molding method showed a high PSI for pervaporation separation of ethanol aqueous solution 53 .…”

“…50 PDMS PV membranes could be prepared with a solventless procedure under UV radiation. 51,52 PDMS/ZSM-5 composite membranes prepared via solvent-free twin-screw compounding and molding method showed a high PSI for pervaporation separation of ethanol aqueous solution. 53 These new procedures allow for fast, green, and continuous fabrication of separation membranes for industrial applications.…”

Controllable synthesis of a chemically stable molecular sieving nanofilm for highly efficient organic solvent nanofiltration

“…13,27 This permeance also surpasses that of most recently reported membranes, such as AlO x /PIM-1, 28 cross-linked PVDF, 29 and epoxysilicone composite membranes. 30 To further demonstrate their potential application in non-polar solvents, the composite membranes were applied in n-hexane. It was found that the composite membrane had an increasing permeance for nhexane from 0.6 to 2.6 L m À2 h À1 bar À1 (Fig.…”