Microfabrication has advanced in the last years and makes the production of microreactors possible, but improvement in microreaction techniques requires membranes capable of fast and effective separation for product enrichment. Progress has been made in the preparation and characterization of ultra-thin polymeric membranes for separation of gases and liquids. It has been shown that polymer layers of only 50-100 nm thickness work very effectively in separation processes and are stable enough to sustain large pressure drops.
Crosslinkable polymers offer the possibility of microstructuring of membranes.
This project concerns to the development of micromachined separation modules employing polymeric membranes for the on-line separation and enrichment of gaseous products. Research is focused on the formation and processing of gas separation membranes and their physico-chemical characterization. This includes studies of phase behavior, permeation and permselectivity behavior as well as investigations directed to the influence of pressure, temperature, plastiziser effects of the penetrant species and synergy effects on the permselectivity. The goal is the the development of micromachined separation modules including especially the realisation of micromachined membrane support. Both the chemical and physical properties of the gas mixtures as well as the desired mass flow and separation performance place stringed requirements on the materials of the membranes, support and module system.