摘要 |
The present invention discloses methods of separating gases using high performance UV cross-linked polymer functionalized molecular sieve/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with either no macrovoids or voids of less than several angstroms at the interface of the polymer matrix and the molecular sieves. These UV cross-linked MMMs were prepared by incorporating polyethersulfone (PES) functionalized molecular sieves such as AIPO-14 and UZM-25 small pore microporous molecular sieves into a continuous UV cross-linkable polyimide polymer matrix followed by UV cross-linking. The UV cross-linked MMMs in the form of symmetric dense film, asymmetric flat sheet membrane, or asymmetric hollow fiber membranes have good flexibility, high mechanical strength, and exhibit significantly enhanced selectivity and permeability over polymer membranes made from corresponding continuous polyimide polymer matrices for carbon dioxide/methane and hydrogen/methane separations. The MMMs of the present invention are suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations.
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