초록 |
An integration of material design and advanced technology facilitates changeover to an energy-efficient future separation system. Liquid separation technology without phase change still remains challenging, although its necessity and importance over various industries. Here, organic solvent forward osmosis (OSFO) separation of alcohols via molecularly selective carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane with varying porosity to maximize separation efficiency is demonstrated. The vapor sorption experiments suggest that the rigid and confined ultramicropores in carbon membrane derived from 6FDA–DAM polyimide fractionate methanol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol via exceptional diffusion selectivity. Such transport behavior in each CMS is successfully extended to a liquid phase separation regime. The draw solvent larger than carbon ultramicropores generates osmotic pressure gradient for the permeation of feed molecules without back-diffusion, leading to direct discrimination of similarly sized alcohol molecules at room temperature. The OSFO technology combined with pore-tuned materials might achieve higher process efficiency and productivity compared to conventional processes. |