Development of gas (vapor) separation hollow fibers based on green technology approach and new 3D woven design of membrane modules

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Gries
• Subject Area: Lightweight Construction, Textile Technology
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405568247

There is need for the creation of targeted membranes designed for current problems. It is required to have an integrated membrane system for filtration and gas separation. Despite the active study of hundreds of polymers as potential membrane material only a few materials are commercialized. The strict selection of polymers for membranes does not only depend on the membrane properties, but also on rheological, mechanical and chemical properties and economically reasonable availability of the polymer. PMP takes special place in a number of polymers as it meets the above noted requirements. Traditional manufacturing process of asymmetric hollow fibers (HF) based on PMP requires the use of harmful solvents and precipitants. The Project assumes the application of the melt-spinning technology for the PMP membrane production. Further, the published data on the parameters of gas permeability for PMP is limited. In recent years interest in PMP as a membrane material is intensified. The effect of permeable crystalline phase on the gas separation properties of PMP is systematically investigated in the framework of the grant RFBR No.15-03-03033. The theoretical and experimental analysis of PMP is aimed to determine the influence of the crystalline phase on the gas separation properties.The project aims at the development of innovative PMP HF with thin selective layer via a solvent free melt-spinning process. For this purpose, the theoretical principles of the transport theory of gases and vapors in semi-crystalline HF with different orientation of the crystallites over the thickness of the selective layer have to be developed. The production of the HF is done using a two-stage process. At first an oriented yarn will be produced via melt spinning process. The second process step includes annealing, drawing and crazing of the HF. Therefore, a detailed examination of the crazing in the immersion bath is necessary. Of particular interest are the effects of crazing on the structure and permeability of the PMP HF. This in turn requires the development of measurement methods for measuring the permeability of gases (H2, O2, N2, CO2, CH4), low molecular hydrocarbons and vapors in the individual HF and HF bundles obtained from a partially crystalline PMP. In addition, the development of 3D membranes is examined by weaving. The development of 3D membranes provides a new range of easily scalable membrane devices of almost any shape demanded. TIPS RAS will focus on the characterization of the membrane properties and will define the framework of the melt spun PMP HFs and the 3D Membrane structure. The ITA will design the manufacturing process taking into account the requirements placed on the fibers and the necessary textile structure of the 3D membranes. This includes the process development of melt spinning process for PMP HF, the design and process development of the crazing process. The 3D weaving process is adapted by ITA to enable production of 3D HF membranes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Science Foundation
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Vladimir Vasilievich Teplyakov