Energy and time efficient infrared (IR) irradiation treatment for preparing thermally rearranged (TR) and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes for gas separation

Abstract

Infrared (IR) irradiation was applied to prepare thermally rearranged (TR) and carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes based on the polymer precursor of HPI-HD5. The effects of the IR treatment conditions such as temperature, time, and environment on the thermal conversion of TR and CMS membranes were investigated for the first time. The membranes subjected to the IR furnace exhibited the same changes of the chemical structure and comparable gas transport behaviors as the membranes treated in the electric furnace. Surprisingly, the maximum treating temperature and processing time were reduced by similar to 100 degrees C and a factor of similar to 20, respectively, in the IR furnace due to the energy-intensive heat radiation and instant temperature control. By replacing the electric furnace with the IR furnace, energy savings by a factor of similar to 10 were obtained at the same thermal conversion rate and consequently, the overall productivity was improved by more than a factor of 100. The applicability and advantages of efficient IR irradiation on TR and CMS membrane fabrication were confirmed in this study.