Novel poly(ether sulfone) with tetraphenyl bipyrimidine unit for gas separation. (21st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Xiaocui; Jin, Sizhuo; Zhang, Jianrui; Yue, Cheng; Zhang, Haibo; Pang, Jinhui; Jiang, Zhenhua
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 211(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-21
• Subjects: Poly(ether sulfone) -- Gas separation -- Tetraphenyl biprimidine; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.123092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Poly (ether sulfone) (PES), as a kind of special engineering plastic, is widely used in the field of separation. However, its gas separation performance is unremarkable. Therefore, a series of PES containing the tetraphenyl bipyrimidine unit (PES-TPhbpy-x) was prepared by nucleophilic polycondensation to improve the gas separation performance of PES. PES-TPhbpy-x exhibited a high molecular weight, excellent mechanical properties, and could form robust membranes. With increasing TPhbpy unit content in PES-TPhbpy-x, the glass transition temperature and heat resistance increased. WAXD analysis revealed that the d -spacing of PES-TPhbpy-x is larger than that of PES. This indicated that the TPhbpy unit could hinder the polymer chain packing and enhance the rigidness of the polymers. Compared with PES, PES-TPhbpy-x exhibited an excellent gas separation performance. The CO2 permeability of the PES-TPhbpy-100 increased by 570%, and the CO2 /N2 selectivity and CO2 /CH4 selectivity increased by 49% and 50%, respectively. Moreover, PES-TPhbpy-100 could form a membrane by the hot-press method. The CO2 permeability of the PES-TPhbpy-100 membrane prepared by the hot-press method was 12.81 barrer. In addition, the CO2 /N2 and CO2 /CH4 selectivities were 32.0 and 37.7, which were 27% and 35% higher than those of the PES membrane, respectively. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A novel bisphenol containing tetraphenyl bipyrimidine structure was prepared. PES-TPhbpy-100 could processed by environment-friendly hot-press method. PES-TPhbpy-x owned the best gas separation performance among analogous polymers.