Solvent and thermally stable polymeric membranes for liquid molecular separations: Recent advances, challenges, and perspectives

Sandra L. Aristizábal; Ryan P. Lively; Suzana P. Nunes

doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121972

Solvent and thermally stable polymeric membranes for liquid molecular separations: Recent advances, challenges, and perspectives

Sandra L. Aristizábal, Ryan P. Lively^*, Suzana P. Nunes^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

The transition to a sustainable economy requires a more effective and less energy-intensive industry. Membrane technology could augment or partially substitute classical molecular separation processes such as distillation to reduce energy, carbon, and water intensity. Organic solvent nanofiltration and reverse osmosis (OSN and OSRO) can positively impact the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food, and fine chemical industries, among others, if broadly implemented. While hybrid and inorganic materials have the potential for game-changing performance, polymeric membranes provide key advantages in scalability and processability. Improved materials able to operate in challenging conditions, including combinations of organic solvents, high temperatures, extreme pHs, and oxidative environments are crucial. This is a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of polymeric membranes for use in OSN and OSRO, including a critical analysis of current academic approaches and potential polymer systems capable of enabling high-temperature liquid phase membrane separations. The challenges and prospects of OSN and OSRO membranes are discussed in the final section.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	121972
Journal	Journal of Membrane Science
Volume	685
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121972
State	Published - Nov 5 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work has been sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology ( KAUST ). RPL was supported by the National Science Foundation ( CBET-1653153 ).

Funding Information:
The most commercially fabricated membranes for OSN have been polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyimide-based. In the mid-1990s, PDMS membranes started to be commercialized for application in organic solvents by membrane manufacturers, such as Koch Membrane Systems, which produced the flat-sheet membranes MPF-50 and MPF-60 (no longer being sold). They consisted of PDMS coated on a crosslinked polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support, for applications in triglycerides isolation from alkanes, catalyst and organometallic complexes recovery from toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dichloromethane (DCM), and solvent exchange in pharmaceutical manufacturing [29]. MPF-50 was used to purify a rhodium catalyst during a hydroformylation process in butyraldehyde. However, it was reported in the following years that the membrane was not stable in organic solvents in continuous operation beyond 10 days [30].PAN support was recently used by Radmanesh et al. [90] to develop a solvent resistant TFC nanofiltration membrane, by creating a non-standard polyphosphazene cyclomatrix using hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene as the monomer. The MWCO of polystyrene markers was found to be 500 g mol−1 in acetone when the interfacial polymerization was done on top of alumina support, whereas for the PAN support the permeance was higher with lower rejection due to the presence of pinholes in the selective layer. The authors suggested that an optimization of the selective layer could be done through infrared-heat-treated PAN supports stable on DMSO.Kim et al. [181] reported a TFC membrane based on an ultrathin polyamide separating layer with a new highly porous, thermally and chemically robust polybenzoxazole-co-imide support from a thermally rearranged polymer. The TR-TFC membranes obtained had an MWCO of 600 g mol−1 in DMF with a permeance of 7.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 after 50 h of compaction at 30 bar and was stable under DMF filtration at 90 °C with a permeance of 12 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 with no significant change in the rejection (Fig. 9).This work has been sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). RPL was supported by the National Science Foundation (CBET-1653153).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

High performance polymer
Membrane separation
Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN)
Organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO)
Polymeric membranes
Porous materials
Solvent-resistant membranes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
General Materials Science
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Filtration and Separation

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10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121972

Cite this

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title = "Solvent and thermally stable polymeric membranes for liquid molecular separations: Recent advances, challenges, and perspectives",

abstract = "The transition to a sustainable economy requires a more effective and less energy-intensive industry. Membrane technology could augment or partially substitute classical molecular separation processes such as distillation to reduce energy, carbon, and water intensity. Organic solvent nanofiltration and reverse osmosis (OSN and OSRO) can positively impact the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food, and fine chemical industries, among others, if broadly implemented. While hybrid and inorganic materials have the potential for game-changing performance, polymeric membranes provide key advantages in scalability and processability. Improved materials able to operate in challenging conditions, including combinations of organic solvents, high temperatures, extreme pHs, and oxidative environments are crucial. This is a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of polymeric membranes for use in OSN and OSRO, including a critical analysis of current academic approaches and potential polymer systems capable of enabling high-temperature liquid phase membrane separations. The challenges and prospects of OSN and OSRO membranes are discussed in the final section.",

keywords = "High performance polymer, Membrane separation, Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN), Organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO), Polymeric membranes, Porous materials, Solvent-resistant membranes",

author = "Aristiz{\'a}bal, {Sandra L.} and Lively, {Ryan P.} and Nunes, {Suzana P.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work has been sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology ( KAUST ). RPL was supported by the National Science Foundation ( CBET-1653153 ). Funding Information: The most commercially fabricated membranes for OSN have been polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyimide-based. In the mid-1990s, PDMS membranes started to be commercialized for application in organic solvents by membrane manufacturers, such as Koch Membrane Systems, which produced the flat-sheet membranes MPF-50 and MPF-60 (no longer being sold). They consisted of PDMS coated on a crosslinked polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support, for applications in triglycerides isolation from alkanes, catalyst and organometallic complexes recovery from toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dichloromethane (DCM), and solvent exchange in pharmaceutical manufacturing [29]. MPF-50 was used to purify a rhodium catalyst during a hydroformylation process in butyraldehyde. However, it was reported in the following years that the membrane was not stable in organic solvents in continuous operation beyond 10 days [30].PAN support was recently used by Radmanesh et al. [90] to develop a solvent resistant TFC nanofiltration membrane, by creating a non-standard polyphosphazene cyclomatrix using hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene as the monomer. The MWCO of polystyrene markers was found to be 500 g mol−1 in acetone when the interfacial polymerization was done on top of alumina support, whereas for the PAN support the permeance was higher with lower rejection due to the presence of pinholes in the selective layer. The authors suggested that an optimization of the selective layer could be done through infrared-heat-treated PAN supports stable on DMSO.Kim et al. [181] reported a TFC membrane based on an ultrathin polyamide separating layer with a new highly porous, thermally and chemically robust polybenzoxazole-co-imide support from a thermally rearranged polymer. The TR-TFC membranes obtained had an MWCO of 600 g mol−1 in DMF with a permeance of 7.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 after 50 h of compaction at 30 bar and was stable under DMF filtration at 90 °C with a permeance of 12 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 with no significant change in the rejection (Fig. 9).This work has been sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). RPL was supported by the National Science Foundation (CBET-1653153). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121972",

language = "English (US)",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Solvent and thermally stable polymeric membranes for liquid molecular separations

T2 - Recent advances, challenges, and perspectives

AU - Aristizábal, Sandra L.

AU - Lively, Ryan P.

AU - Nunes, Suzana P.

N1 - Funding Information: This work has been sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology ( KAUST ). RPL was supported by the National Science Foundation ( CBET-1653153 ). Funding Information: The most commercially fabricated membranes for OSN have been polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyimide-based. In the mid-1990s, PDMS membranes started to be commercialized for application in organic solvents by membrane manufacturers, such as Koch Membrane Systems, which produced the flat-sheet membranes MPF-50 and MPF-60 (no longer being sold). They consisted of PDMS coated on a crosslinked polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support, for applications in triglycerides isolation from alkanes, catalyst and organometallic complexes recovery from toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dichloromethane (DCM), and solvent exchange in pharmaceutical manufacturing [29]. MPF-50 was used to purify a rhodium catalyst during a hydroformylation process in butyraldehyde. However, it was reported in the following years that the membrane was not stable in organic solvents in continuous operation beyond 10 days [30].PAN support was recently used by Radmanesh et al. [90] to develop a solvent resistant TFC nanofiltration membrane, by creating a non-standard polyphosphazene cyclomatrix using hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene as the monomer. The MWCO of polystyrene markers was found to be 500 g mol−1 in acetone when the interfacial polymerization was done on top of alumina support, whereas for the PAN support the permeance was higher with lower rejection due to the presence of pinholes in the selective layer. The authors suggested that an optimization of the selective layer could be done through infrared-heat-treated PAN supports stable on DMSO.Kim et al. [181] reported a TFC membrane based on an ultrathin polyamide separating layer with a new highly porous, thermally and chemically robust polybenzoxazole-co-imide support from a thermally rearranged polymer. The TR-TFC membranes obtained had an MWCO of 600 g mol−1 in DMF with a permeance of 7.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 after 50 h of compaction at 30 bar and was stable under DMF filtration at 90 °C with a permeance of 12 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 with no significant change in the rejection (Fig. 9).This work has been sponsored by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). RPL was supported by the National Science Foundation (CBET-1653153). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2023/11/5

Y1 - 2023/11/5

N2 - The transition to a sustainable economy requires a more effective and less energy-intensive industry. Membrane technology could augment or partially substitute classical molecular separation processes such as distillation to reduce energy, carbon, and water intensity. Organic solvent nanofiltration and reverse osmosis (OSN and OSRO) can positively impact the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food, and fine chemical industries, among others, if broadly implemented. While hybrid and inorganic materials have the potential for game-changing performance, polymeric membranes provide key advantages in scalability and processability. Improved materials able to operate in challenging conditions, including combinations of organic solvents, high temperatures, extreme pHs, and oxidative environments are crucial. This is a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of polymeric membranes for use in OSN and OSRO, including a critical analysis of current academic approaches and potential polymer systems capable of enabling high-temperature liquid phase membrane separations. The challenges and prospects of OSN and OSRO membranes are discussed in the final section.

AB - The transition to a sustainable economy requires a more effective and less energy-intensive industry. Membrane technology could augment or partially substitute classical molecular separation processes such as distillation to reduce energy, carbon, and water intensity. Organic solvent nanofiltration and reverse osmosis (OSN and OSRO) can positively impact the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food, and fine chemical industries, among others, if broadly implemented. While hybrid and inorganic materials have the potential for game-changing performance, polymeric membranes provide key advantages in scalability and processability. Improved materials able to operate in challenging conditions, including combinations of organic solvents, high temperatures, extreme pHs, and oxidative environments are crucial. This is a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of polymeric membranes for use in OSN and OSRO, including a critical analysis of current academic approaches and potential polymer systems capable of enabling high-temperature liquid phase membrane separations. The challenges and prospects of OSN and OSRO membranes are discussed in the final section.

KW - High performance polymer

KW - Membrane separation

KW - Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN)

KW - Organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO)

KW - Polymeric membranes

KW - Porous materials

KW - Solvent-resistant membranes

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U2 - 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121972

DO - 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121972

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85166917158

SN - 0376-7388

VL - 685

JO - Journal of Membrane Science

JF - Journal of Membrane Science

M1 - 121972

ER -

Solvent and thermally stable polymeric membranes for liquid molecular separations: Recent advances, challenges, and perspectives

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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