Strategy for selection of composite membrane materials

A method to identify polymers that are potentially useful for membrane sepa rations has been developed by examining gas chromatography (GC) retention d ata. Promising stationary phases were identified, and polymers with similar structures were obtained and deposited into inorganic supports. Polymers w ere identified to separate ketones and alcohols from hydrocarbons. The poly mer/inorganic composite membranes synthesized for this research were charac terized by IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Favorable flux es and high separations factors were achieved for several composite materia ls.