Grafted Polymer Nanocomposite Materials, Systems, And Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101386-A1
Application number	US-201514878115-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2015
Priority date	Oct 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are methods of separating one or more components from a fluid by using membranes and other materials comprising polymer graft nanoparticles arranged in a lattice structure. The disclosed compositions exhibit an increase in selectivity between two penetrants that is greater than the neat polymer selectivity for those penetrants. The compositions also exhibit an increase in selectivity between two penetrants with increasing permeability. Also provided are systems for effecting such separations, systems for agent detection, and additional methods for constructing separation components.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A composition, comprising:
a plurality of graft nanoparticles, a graft nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle (a) having an average cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 1 nm to about 50 nm and (b) having a population of polymer chains attached thereto.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the graft nanoparticles are arranged in a lattice structure.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the graft nanoparticles have a polymer chain graft density of between about 0.1 to about 0.8 chains/nm 2 of particle surface.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the graft nanoparticles comprise SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Ag, Au, AlO 3 , BrO 3 , or any combination thereof.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is characterized as being in the form of a membrane, and wherein the membrane is characterized as having a selectivity between two penetrants that is greater than the selectivity of the neat polymer for those penetrants by from about 1.01 times to about 10 times, at a given permeability value.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is characterized as being in the form of a membrane, and wherein the membrane is characterized as having a selectivity between two penetrants that increases by from 0.1% to about 500% over an increase in permeability of from about 0.01% to about 100%.

7 . A method, comprising:
contacting a fluid having at least two components to a membrane under such conditions such that one of the at least two components of the fluid is preferentially passed through the membrane, the membrane comprising a plurality of graft nanoparticles, a graft nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle (a) having an average cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 1 nm to about 50 nm and (b) having a population of polymer chains attached thereto, the plurality of graft nanoparticles being arranged in a lattice structure.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one graft nanoparticle has an average cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 2 nm to about 10 nm.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one polymer chain is characterized as being hydrophobic.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one polymer chain is characterized as being hydrophilic.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a nanoparticle comprises SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Ag, Au, AlO 3 , BrO 3 , or any combination thereof.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the average length of the population of polymer chains attached to the nanoparticle is between about 85% and about 115% of the cross-sectional dimension of the nanoparticle.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a graft nanoparticle is characterized as being from about 0.01 vol % to about 50 vol % particle.

14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the fluid comprises natural gas.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the fluid comprises a biomolecule.

16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least some of the population of polymer chains comprise a biomolecule.

17 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least some of the population of polymer chains comprise a polar group, an ionic group, an aromatic group, or any combination thereof.

18 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the membrane further comprises a solvent.

19 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the membrane further comprises an amount of polymer that is not attached to a graft nanoparticle.

20 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the membrane is configured so as to preferentially pass therethrough a pre-selected component of the fluid.

21 . A system, comprising:
a chamber having an inlet, the inlet in fluid communication with a first membrane, the first membrane comprising a plurality of graft nanoparticles, a graft nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle (a) having an average cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 1 nm to about 50 nm and (b) having a population of polymer chains attached thereto, and the plurality of graft nanoparticles being arranged in a lattice structure.

22 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising a source of fluid in fluid communication with the inlet, the fluid comprising at least two components, one of the at least two components of the fluid being preferentially passed through the first membrane as compared to another of the at least two components.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the first membrane is configured so as to preferentially pass natural gas therethrough.

24 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising a second membrane.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein, under the same conditions, the rate at which the first membrane passes a component therethrough is within about 10% of the rate at which the second membrane passes that same component.

26 . A sensing device, comprising:
a first assembly of a plurality of graft nanoparticles, a graft nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle (a) having an average cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 1 nm to about 50 nm and (b) having a population of polymer chains attached thereto, and the plurality of graft nanoparticles being arranged in a lattice structure; and a detector configured to detect a physical change in the assembly related to the assembly's exposure to an agent.

27 . The sensing device of claim 26 , wherein the detector is configured to measure a color change, an opacity change, a change in polarization, or any combination thereof.

28 . The sensing device of claim 27 , wherein the first assembly is sensitive to a first agent.

29 . The sensing device of claim 28 , further comprising a second assembly of graft nanoparticles, the second assembly of graft nanoparticles being sensitive to a second agent that differs from the first agent.

Assignees

• Univ Columbia

Inventors

• Kumar Sanat K
• Durning Christopher James
• Buenning Eileen
• Bilchak Connor

Classifications

• B01D71/78

  Graft polymers · CPC title

• C08F122/10

  Esters · CPC title

• C10L2290/548

  Membrane- or permeation-treatment for separating fractions, components or impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel · CPC title

• C10L3/103

  Sulfur containing contaminants · CPC title

• G01N21/78

  producing a change of colour · CPC title