Zeolite-like performance for xylene isomer purification using polymer-derived carbon membranes
Yao Ma, Nicholas C. Bruno, Fengyi Zhang, M. G. Finn, Ryan P. Lively
Abstract
Significance Xylenes are essential feedstocks for manufacturing packaging materials, versatile chemicals, industrial solvents, etc. The purification of xylene isomers is one of the most important yet energy-intensive organic mixture separations in the chemical industry. We achieved the separation of xylene isomers using carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes derived from a spirobifluorene-based polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-SBF), which could potentially reduce the energy consumption, carbon emissions, and equipment footprint. CMS membranes are solvent- and temperature-resistant materials that can withstand high transmembrane pressures when fabricated into the form of hollow fibers. The new CMS membrane produced here shows competitive performance with state-of-the-art zeolites under high xylene loadings, and its development has provided fundamental insight and guidance into the manipulation of CMS pore structure.