Design of polymeric membranes suitable for contactor devices and gas separation

Annarosa Gugliuzza

Participants: Alessandra Criscuoli, Giorgio De Luca, Elena Tocci, Marianna Carmela Aceto, Rita Costabile, Valentina Speranza
 

Objectives

• Preparation and characterization of polymeric membranes with well-controlled morphology and chemistry

• Investigation of the intermolecular interactions membrane-penetrant.

• Design of new active interfaces

Methodology

• Fabrication of polymeric membranes with various morphologies by using phase inversion techniques

• Study of phase diagrams in ternary solutions

• Evaluation of structure-property relationships at molecular scale

Results

Super-hydrophobic membranes:
Well-structured and functionalised layers are successfully generated by phase inversion techniques, which are selected according to the intrinsic properties of the materials. The membranes exhibit micro- and nano-structures with high control of the pore size, pore distribution, porosity and thickness. The surface chemistry is adequately manipulated, resulting in directed mutual liquid-membrane interactions. Controlled morphology and chemistry well-merge in the same film, yielding interfaces suitable for membrane contactor applications.

Gas separation membranes:
Functional selective dense membranes are fabricated by delineating parameters of affinity to specific penetrating molecules. Structure-property relationships are identified by analyzing the effects of membrane structure and chemistry on the overall transport. Changes in free volume and chemical interactions are recognized and interpreted at molecular scale with the support of theoretical studies.

Perspectives

Design of new modified polymeric membranes for contactors and gas separation.
Interpretation of the phenomenon from macro- to sub-nano metric scale and vice-versa

“Commessa e modulo” of reference

Commessa PM.P02.007.00 /Preparazione di membrane polimeriche, inorganiche e catalitiche del Progetto 2 del Dipartimento di Progettazione Molecolare
Commessa PM.P02.007.002 / Simulazioni e modellistica di fenomeni di trasporto in membrane ed operazioni a membrana per mezzo dei metodi della chimica computazionale del Progetto 2 del Dipartimento di Progettazione Molecolare
 

Collaborations

GVS SpA Company (Bologna), University of Torino (UNITO), University of Salerno (UNISA), University of Padova (ITM-CNR), Procter & Gamble Company (Pescara), ITS ARTEA – G.Crespi Company (Milano), Solvay-Solexis Company (Milano)
 

Funding sources

OTTIME, Studio ed ottimizzazione di processi di interesse industriale condotti con “Membrane Contactors” (DECR. 9 ottobre 2002 prot. n. 1105/2002), Ministero dell’Istruzione dell’Università e della Ricerca (MIUR).
MULTIMATDESIGN Computer aided molecular design of multifunctional materials with controlled permeability properties, European Commission 6th Framework Program Project (Contract Number: NMP3-CT-2005-013644).
INSTM/CINECA for computational support (Superprogetto di calcolo 2005).
INSTM/CINECA for computational support (Superprogetto di calcolo 2007).
ITM-GVS SpA cooperation
ITM-Procter&Gamble Joint Venture (2002)
Textiles & Clothes National Research Project (PNR3-MIUR, 2000-2001)

Main references

1. A. Gugliuzza, E. Drioli, New performance of hydrophobic fluorinated porous membranes exhibiting particulate-like morphology, Desalination (2009), (doi: 10.1016/j.desal.0000.00.000).

2. Elena Tocci, Annarosa Gugliuzza, Luana De Lorenzo, Marialuigia Macchione, Giorgio De Luca and Enrico Drioli, Transport properties of a co-poly(amide-12-b-ethylene oxide) membrane a comparative study between experimental and molecular modelling results, Journal of Membrane Science (2008), in press.   

3. A. Gugliuzza, G. De Luca, E. Tocci, L. De Lorenzo, and E. Drioli, Intermolecular Interactions as Controlling Factor for Water Sorption into Polymer Membranes, Journal of Physic Chemistry B 2007, 111, 8868-8878.

4. A. Gugliuzza, E. Drioli, PVDF and HYFLON AD membranes: Ideal interfaces for contactor applications, Journal  of  Membrane Science 300 (2007) 51–62

5. Gugliuzza A, Fabiani R, Garavaglia MG, Spisso A, Drioli E, Study of the surface character as responsible for controlling interfacial forces at membrane-feed interface, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 303 (2006) 388-403. Gugliuzza A, Fabiani R, Garavaglia MG, Spisso A, Drioli E, Corrigendum to “Study of the surface character as responsible for controlling interfacial forces at membrane–feed interface” [J.Colloid Interface Sci. 303 (2006) 388–403], Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 306 (2007) 192–193.

6. A.Gugliuzza, E. Drioli, Evaluation of the CO₂ permeation through functional assembled monolayers: relationships between structure and transport, Polymer, 46 (23), (2005), 9994-10003.

7. Gugliuzza A, Drioli E, Role of additives in the water vapor transport through block co-poly(amide/ether) membranes: effects on surface and bulk polymer properties, European Polymer Journal, 40/10, (2004), 2381-2389.

8. A.Gugliuzza, E. Drioli, New performance of a modified poly(amide-12-b-ethyleneoxide), Polymer, 44/7 (2003), 2149.

9. L. De Bartolo, A. Gugliuzza, B. Cirillo, S. Morelli and E. Drioli, Biocompatibility of modified Polyetheretherketone (PEEK-WC) membranes: Human Plasma Adsorption, in “Membranes Preparation, Properties and Applications”, V.N. Burganos, R.D. Noble, M. Asaeda, A. Ayral, J.D. LeRoux (eds.), NY, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 752 (2003), AA14.2.1.

10. A. Gugliuzza, G. Clarizia, G. Golemme, E. Drioli, New breathable and waterproof coatings for textiles: effect of an aliphatic polyurethane on the formation of PEEK-WC porous membranes, European Polymer Journal, 38 (2002), 235.

Next Generation Self-assembled Functional Membranes

Annarosa Gugliuzza

Participants: Marianna Carmela Aceto, Rita Costabile, Valentina Speranza

Objectives

Regular functional architectures designed for membrane contactors, membrane catalytic reactors, sensors, biosensors, scaffolds, smarts and chips.

Methodology

Water-assisted formation of 2D and 3D porous structures with ordered hole patterns and supra-molecular chemistry.

Results

Micro- and nano-structured membranes are fabricated in short time by using solvent-reduced self-assembling techniques. Monolayered and multilayered patterns are built up from polymers with various architectures and chemical functionalities. The bubble-arrays exhibit usually hexagonal geometry propagated through the overall film, resulting in attractive membranes and scaffolds.
Regular, mono-disperse and no-coalesced pores are constructed in ordered sequence and functionalised at their entrance.

Perspectives

Regular polymeric architectures are attractive for a broad range of applications, from traditional micrographics to sophisticated membranes for contactors, catalysis, sensors and biosensors. The self-assembly offers a smart control of the structural parameters at micro and nano-scale level. The self-assembly approach appears a powerful and environmentally friendly technique, leading to a new class of next generation membranes.

“Commessa e modulo” of reference

Commessa PM.P02.007.00 /Preparazione di membrane polimeriche, inorganiche e catalitiche del Progetto 2 del Dipartimento di Progettazione Molecolare.

Collaborations

University of Padova-ITM-CNR (Padova),University of Calabria (Cosenza),University of Torino (Torino), Solvay-Solexis Company (Milano)

Funding sources

Nuove membrane catalitiche e reattori catalitici a membrana per reazioni selettive come sistemi avanzati per uno sviluppo industriale sostenibile (CAMERE prot. n. RBNE03JCR5, FIRB - MIUR).
Expanding membrane macroscale applications by exploring nanoscale material properties (NANOMEMPRO, NE-EC))
 

Main references

1. A. Gugliuzza, M.C. Aceto, F. Macedonio, E. Drioli Water droplets as template for ordered self-assembled PEEK-WC membranes, J. Phys. Chem. B (2008), (DOI: 10.1021/jp802130u).

2. A. Gugliuzza, M.C. Aceto, E. Drioli, Highly ordered porous poly(etheretherketone) membranes, Proceedings of VI Convegno Nazionale sulla Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, Perugia, June 12-15, 2007.

3. A.Gugliuzza, M.C. Aceto, E. Drioli, Self-assembled honeycomb PEEK-WC membranes, Proceedings of 70th PMM - 46th Microsymposium on “Nanostructured Polymers and Polymer Nanocomposites”, Prague, July 8-12, 2007.