Anion exchange membranes, methods of preparation and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides anion exchange membranes, processes for producing same and uses thereof. The anion exchange membranes according to embodiments of the present invention achieve a desirable combination of low resistance, high permselectivity and low degree of dimensional swelling. Anion exchange membranes according to embodiments of the present invention are also cost effective.

1 . An anion exchange membrane comprising:
 i) a first aromatic polymer comprising cationic groups bound to an aromatic backbone of the first aromatic polymer through alkyl groups; and   ii) a second aromatic polymer comprising aromatic amino groups;   wherein the first aromatic polymer and the second aromatic polymer are crosslinked through an alkyl bridge between an aromatic ring of the aromatic backbone of the first polymer and an amine of the second polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the first aromatic polymer comprising cationic groups is based on a polymer selected from the group consisting of alkylated polyphenylene oxide, alkylated polyphenylsulfone, polysulfone based on bisphenol A, alkylated polyethersulfone, alkylated polyaromatic ether ketone and aromatic alkylated polystyrene, 
     
     
         3 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 2 , wherein the first aromatic polymer comprising cationic groups is based on alkylated polyphenylene oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 3 , wherein the alkylated polyphenylene oxide is methylated polyphenylene oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 4 , wherein the methylated polyphenylene oxide is 2, 6, dimethyl polyphenylene oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl group of the first aromatic polymer comprising cationic groups, the alkyl bridge, or both, are a short-chain alkyl containing 1 to 6 methylene groups. 
     
     
         7 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 6 , wherein the alkyl group of the first aromatic polymer comprising cationic groups, the alkyl bridge, or both are methyl. 
     
     
         8 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the cationic groups are selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, phosphonium and sulfonium group. 
     
     
         9 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange capacity of the cationic groups ranges from 0.2 to 5 meq/gr. 
     
     
         10 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the second aromatic polymer comprising aromatic amino groups is based on an aromatic condensation polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 10 , wherein the aromatic condensation polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyphenylsulfone, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherketone, polyetheretherketone and polyphenylsulfide. 
     
     
         12 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the amine content on the second aromatic polymer comprising aromatic amino groups ranges from 0.2 to 4 meq/gr. 
     
     
         13 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , further comprising an aromatic polymer selected from an aromatic non-derivatized polymer and an aromatic polymer derivatized with hydrophobic moieties. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 13 , wherein the additional polymer constitutes up to 50% of the total polymer content of the membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic polymer comprising cationic groups, the aromatic polymer comprising aromatic amino groups, or both, further comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of nitro and halide groups on at least part of the aromatic rings. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane maintains its lateral dimensions in both dry and wet conditions to within 10%. 
     
     
         21 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a single layer. 
     
     
         22 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises multiple layers. 
     
     
         23 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 1 , further comprising a surface coating made of non-charged crosslinked hydrophilic polymers or of an amphoteric film. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The anion exchange membrane of  claim 19 , wherein the surface coating is separated from the underlying membrane by a thin hydrophilic neutral layer. 
     
     
         26 - 60 . (canceled)