As one of very few research group around the world, MEMFO (=Membranforskning) research group at Institute of Chemical Engineering, NTNU, has for about ten years worked on the development of stable membranes for the separation of aggressive gases such as Cl2 or HCl from gas mixtures. Both of these chemicals are widely used within process industry, and the potentials for applications are enormous. The fundamental knowledge acquired over the years has lead to an understanding on how such membranes now can b e tailored for the separation of these gases. Very promising results have been achieved with pore tailored glass membranes surface modified with perfluorinated compounds. These materials have proved to be stable towards the aggressive gases.
The proposed project will focus on hybride materials ("mixed matrix") with physical incorporation of glass fillers into perfluorinated polymers; basically as microporous surface modified glass particles or crushed glass hollow fibres. The choice of polymer and glass fillers will be based on the knowledge on transport mechanisms of Cl2 and HCl, as well as miscibility and separation properties of the composite materials. The membrane will be characterised for separation properties (single and mixed gases), and simulati ons will be performed for a chosen process.