Styrene-siloxane triblock copolymers as membranes for selective transport of alcohols and other organic compounds in aqueous mixtures

摘要

The present disclosure relates to high molecular weight polystyrene-polydialkylsiloxane-polystyrene (“SDS”) triblock copolymer compositions and methods of separating one or more organic compounds from an aqueous solution using membranes derived from SDS triblock copolymers. The methods may be used to separate the one or more organic compounds from an aqueous solution produced in a fermentation process. In some embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include an alcohol, such as, for example, ethanol. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include acetone. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include acetone, ethanol, and n-butanol produced in an acetone-ethanol-n-butanol (ABE) fermentation process. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include one or more byproducts produced in a fermentation process.

主权项

1. A poly(styrene-b-dialkylsiloxane-b-styrene) triblock copolymer comprising a polydialkylsiloxane block and polystyrene end blocks,
wherein the triblock copolymer has (i) a molecular weight in the range of about 110kg/mol to about 1000 kg/mol, and (ii) cylindrical morphology, lamellar morphology, double diamond morphology, or gyroid morphology; and wherein the triblock copolymer loses about 5% of weight at a temperature in the range of about 290° C. to about 350° C.