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Cheaper ionomer membranes
ISSN 0958-2118
1992/9
An International Newsletter
Number 29
Membrane Technology Cheaper ionomer membranes EIC Laboratories, developers of a new ol.RS of lonomer m e m b r a n e , claims that they have lower ion resistivity a n d better stability t h a n conventional cation ¢~change m e m b r a n e s . With a s t a r t i ~ point of c h e a p a n d plentiful h y d r o c a r b o n s rather t h a n m o r e expensive fluorinated chemlc~tq the new m e m b r a n e s should also be cheaper to m a n u f a c t u r e . The deve/opment work w a s underf~,ken with a g r a n t from the US D e p a r t m e n t of Energy a n d EIC are now looking to license m a n u f a c t u r e of the m e m b r a n e s . PotentiAl application a r e a s include purification of waste streams, including metal Ion recovery, or u s e as fuel cell electrolytes. The m e m b r a n e s are m a d e b y radical polymerization a n d hydrolyzation of m o n o m e r s of 'superacids' - - acids with equal or greater strength t h a n sulphurlc acid. Using superacids is said to give the m e m b r a n e s a higher ionic capacity, or more ionic g r o u p s per molecule t h a n s t a n d a r d m e m b r a n e s . EIC h a s already m~de a h y d r o c a r b o n polymer a n d is synthesizing a n o t h e r which will have a pertluormated b a c k b o n e for greater stability, b u t at a higher cost. Characterization work is continuing o n all m e m b r a n e s . Further tnformatlon from.. T ~ w t h y L. Rose, EIC Laboratories Inc, 111 D o w n e y Street, Norwood, MA 02602, USA. Tel +I 617 769 9450. F a x +1 617 551 0283.
M e m b r a n e s for chemical sensors
ELSEV ER A D V A N ( ~ED TECHNOLOGY
Ultrathin-fllm composite m e m b r a n e s are likely to find m a n y new applications as barrier layers in the next generation of chemical sensors. In general, barrier layers u s e d in s u c h s e n s o r s m u s t provide some degree of chemlcal selectivity, yet m u s t allow for high rates of analyte flux so t h a t sensor r e s p o n s e time is mln~n1~ed. These m e m b r a n e requirements m high chemical selectivity, high p e r m e a t e flux, a n d good mechanical strength - - m a t c h the p e r f o r m a n c e of today's
Ltd., b ~ u ~ l @ 2 1 S 6 . O 0 per item . . . . . No _Imrtof this publication may ~ reprodu_ced, stored in a retrieval system, or. Iransmitt~l.b~. any Iorm or oy. an..ymeans, elecvromc, mechanical, pliotocopying, recormng or otherwise, without the prior permismon of the pummnors. (Reaaers m me u . ~ . - - ptease see special regulatlofis listed on back cover.)
O 1 9 9 2 J,llmsvier l l e l e n e e P u b l i l ~ m
1992/9
An International Newsletter
Number 29
Membrane Technology Cheaper ionomer membranes EIC Laboratories, developers of a new ol.RS of lonomer m e m b r a n e , claims that they have lower ion resistivity a n d better stability t h a n conventional cation ¢~change m e m b r a n e s . With a s t a r t i ~ point of c h e a p a n d plentiful h y d r o c a r b o n s rather t h a n m o r e expensive fluorinated chemlc~tq the new m e m b r a n e s should also be cheaper to m a n u f a c t u r e . The deve/opment work w a s underf~,ken with a g r a n t from the US D e p a r t m e n t of Energy a n d EIC are now looking to license m a n u f a c t u r e of the m e m b r a n e s . PotentiAl application a r e a s include purification of waste streams, including metal Ion recovery, or u s e as fuel cell electrolytes. The m e m b r a n e s are m a d e b y radical polymerization a n d hydrolyzation of m o n o m e r s of 'superacids' - - acids with equal or greater strength t h a n sulphurlc acid. Using superacids is said to give the m e m b r a n e s a higher ionic capacity, or more ionic g r o u p s per molecule t h a n s t a n d a r d m e m b r a n e s . EIC h a s already m~de a h y d r o c a r b o n polymer a n d is synthesizing a n o t h e r which will have a pertluormated b a c k b o n e for greater stability, b u t at a higher cost. Characterization work is continuing o n all m e m b r a n e s . Further tnformatlon from.. T ~ w t h y L. Rose, EIC Laboratories Inc, 111 D o w n e y Street, Norwood, MA 02602, USA. Tel +I 617 769 9450. F a x +1 617 551 0283.
M e m b r a n e s for chemical sensors
ELSEV ER A D V A N ( ~ED TECHNOLOGY
Ultrathin-fllm composite m e m b r a n e s are likely to find m a n y new applications as barrier layers in the next generation of chemical sensors. In general, barrier layers u s e d in s u c h s e n s o r s m u s t provide some degree of chemlcal selectivity, yet m u s t allow for high rates of analyte flux so t h a t sensor r e s p o n s e time is mln~n1~ed. These m e m b r a n e requirements m high chemical selectivity, high p e r m e a t e flux, a n d good mechanical strength - - m a t c h the p e r f o r m a n c e of today's
Ltd., b ~ u ~ l @ 2 1 S 6 . O 0 per item . . . . . No _Imrtof this publication may ~ reprodu_ced, stored in a retrieval system, or. Iransmitt~l.b~. any Iorm or oy. an..ymeans, elecvromc, mechanical, pliotocopying, recormng or otherwise, without the prior permismon of the pummnors. (Reaaers m me u . ~ . - - ptease see special regulatlofis listed on back cover.)
O 1 9 9 2 J,llmsvier l l e l e n e e P u b l i l ~ m