Preparation and performance characterization of novel PVA blended with fluorinated polyimide membrane for gas separation

Abstract

Fluorinated polyimide and PVA blending membranes were prepared by aqueous solution casting. We chose a poly (amic acid) ammonium salt (PAAS) in aqueous solution based on a novel green strategy as the PI precursor. The blending membranes were characterized by ATR-FTIR, DSC, TGA and gas permeation measurement. The ATR-FTIR analysis revealed that the imidization reaction of 6FPI based on aqueous precursor was completed at 180°C and hydrogen bonds formed between PVA and 6FPI. 6FPI showed good compatibility with PVA segment in blending membranes without obvious separated phase structure. The blending membranes showed high separation properties, for blending with 6FPI the gas separation performance stability was improved due to the hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups of PVA and carbonyl groups of 6FPI, and the rigid structure of 6FPI. At high operating pressure 10 bar, the CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity remained rather high. Using water as the solvent in the PAAS synthesis and membrane preparation is more environmentally friendly and less costly.