Hydrogen Separation of Carbon Molecular Sieve Membranes Derived from Polyimides Having Decomposable Side Groups
Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes were prepared by pyrolysis of polyimides having carboxylic acid groups and applied to the hydrogen separation. The polymeric membranes having carboxylic acid groups showed different steric properties as compared with polymeric membranes having other side groups (-CH3 and -CF3) because of the hydrogen bond between the carboxylic acid groups. However, the microporous CMS membranes were significantly affected by the decomposable side groups evidenced from the wide angle X-rat diffraction, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, and single gas permeation measurement. Furthermore, the gas separation properties of the CMS membranes were essentially affected by the pyrolysis temperature. As a result, the CMS membranes Prepared by Pyrolysis of polyimide containing carboxylic acid froups at 700℃ showed the H2 permeability of 3,809 Baller [1×10-10 H cm(STP)cm/cm2.s.cmHg], H2/N2, selectivity of 46 and H2/CH4 selectivity of 130 while the CMS membranes derived from polyimide showed the H2 permeability of 3,272 Barrer, H2/N2 selectivity of 136 and H2/CH4 selectivity of 177.