Thermally rearranged (TR) polymer membranes with nanoengineered cavities tuned for CO2 separation

Abstract

Membrane gas separation technology has been rapidly growing for industrial applications such as air separation, carbon dioxide (CO2) separation from natural gas production, hydrogen separation, etc. Needs for CO2 separation are increasing as carbon capture technology has been recognized as an essential part when combating the global warming issue. Membrane gas separation technology deals with mass transport phenomena through the membrane engineered on a sub-nanoscale controlling transport properties of small gas molecules such as CO2, N-2, O-2, H-2, etc. In this review, we will report on the recent developments in capture technologies utilizing various membranes including nano-engineered thermally rearranged (TR) polymers. TR polymer membranes show high gas permeability as well as good separation properties, especially in CO2 separation processes such as from post-combustion flue gas and natural gas sweetening.