Solution-processable polytriazoles from spirocyclic monomers for membrane-based hydrocarbon separations
File(s)NM22041147_Manuscript_revised.pdf (1.74 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The thermal distillation of crude oil mixtures is an energy-intensive process, accounting for nearly 1% of global energy consumption. Membrane-based separations are an appealing alternative or tandem process to distillation due to intrinsic energy efficiency advantages. We developed a family of spirocyclic polytriazoles from structurally diverse monomers for membrane applications. The resulting polymers were prepared by a convenient step-growth method using copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, providing very fast reaction rates, high molecular weights and solubilities in common organic solvents and non-interconnected microporosity. Fractionation of whole Arabian light crude oil and atmospheric tower bottom feeds using these materials enriched the low-boiling-point components and removed trace heteroatom and metal impurities (comparable performance with the lighter feed as the commercial polyimide, Matrimid), demonstrating opportunities to reduce the energy cost of crude oil distillation with tandem membrane processes. Membrane-based molecular separation under these demanding conditions is made possible by high thermal stability and a moderate level of dynamic chain mobility, leading to transient interconnections between micropores, as revealed by the calculations of static and swollen pore structures.
Date Issued
2023-12
Date Acceptance
2023-09-07
Citation
Nature Materials, 2023, 22 (12), pp.1540-1547
ISSN
1476-1122
Publisher
Nature Research
Start Page
1540
End Page
1547
Journal / Book Title
Nature Materials
Volume
22
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 Springer-Verlag. This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01682-2
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37845319
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2023-10-16