Highly selective polymer electrolyte membranes consisting of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and Cu(NO3)2 for SF6 separation.

Polymer electrolyte membranes consisting of Cu(NO3)2 and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (POZ) were prepared for SF6/N2 separation. It was anticipated that repulsive forces would be operative between the negative charge of water and the F atoms of SF6 when Cu(NO3)2 in the composite was solvated by water, and that the barrier effect of Cu(2+) ions would be activated. In fact, Cu(NO3)2 solvated by water in the POZ membrane was observed to have more higher-order ionic aggregates than free ions or ion pairs, as confirmed by FT-Raman spectroscopy. Thus, when Cu(NO3)2 solvated by water was incorporated into the POZ matrix, the N2/SF6 selectivity increased to 28.0 with a N2 permeance of 11.2 GPU at a POZ/Cu(NO3)2 mole ratio of 1:0.7. The coordinative interaction of Cu(NO3)2 with the carbonyl group in POZ was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and TGA, and the film thickness of the membrane was determined from SEM analysis.