CMS Membrane, Process for Its Preparation and Its Use

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The invention is a novel type of ultrathin, defect-free carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane derived from pyrolyzing a specific polyimide material. The membrane can be used alone or supported by a porous substrate with a mesoporous intermediate layer. Its main function is the highly efficient separation of gas mixtures (such as hydrogen from carbon dioxide or methane) and liquid mixtures (especially in the dehydration of alcohols like methanol and ethanol). The manufacturing process ensures a very thin, robust membrane with high selectivity and permeance, exceeding performance of known CMS and inorganic membranes.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Hydrogen purification in chemical, petrochemical, and energy industries
• Biogas and landfill gas upgrading to remove CO₂ and other impurities
• Separation and purification of hydrocarbon mixtures in refineries
• Selective removal of water from methanol or ethanol in biofuel production
• High-performance dehydration processes for solvents in pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries
• Integration into gas separation devices and pervaporation apparatus for industrial applications

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Exceptional hydrogen selectivity and permeance compared to other CMS and inorganic membranes
• Ultra-thin structure offers high efficiency with reduced material use and energy consumption
• Defect-free (pinhole-free) design leads to reliable and reproducible separation
• Chemically and thermally robust, suitable for harsh processing environments
• Scalable manufacturing process with commercially available starting materials
• Versatile application for both gas and liquid separation, enhancing process flexibility and operational efficiency

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a CMS membrane, characterised in that it is obtainable by pyrolysis of a polyimide formed from the monomers 1-{4-aminophenyl)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2H-inden-5-amine and 5-(1,3-dioxo-2-benzofuran-5-carbonyl-2-benzofuran-1,3-dione of the following formulas: preferably by pyrolysis of the polyimide with the CAS number 62929-02-6, and a supported CMS membrane, comprising a CMS membrane obtainable from a polyimide by pyrolysis and a porous support, characterised in that a mesoporous intermediate layer is provided between the CMS membrane and the porous support. The invention further relates to a method for producing the supported membrane, the use of the membranes for separating gas mixtures or liquid mixtures, a gas separation apparatus or liquid separation apparatus containing said membranes, and the use of the polyimide to produce a CMS membrane by pyrolysis.