Crystallization-template-induced PEEK membranes for particulate matter capture at high temperature and separation of emulsion containing corrosive component

Because of the excellent thermal and chemical stabilities, porous poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) membranes have been highly desired in the applications of pollution prevention in harsh working conditions, e.g., particulate matter capture at high temperature and the separation of emulsion containing corrosive component. The fabrication of them, however, remains as a great challenge. In this work, PEEK membranes have been prepared based on crystallization template in its miscible blend with poly(ether imide) (PEI). Upon etching by its selective solvent (chloroform), PEI has been removed, producing porous PEEK membranes. Relative to commercial membranes, the attained PEEK membrane exhibits much better thermal and chemical stabilities. On one hand, PEEK membranes can be used at 260 °C for long periods with neither change of dimensional size nor loss of separation performance, which is significant in dedusting in thermal power plants; On the other hand, porous PEEK membranes work well in the separation of emulsions containing corrosive component (60% sulfuric acid) and organic solvents with extraordinary dissolving capacity (CCl4 or cyclohexane). Our result is significant for the fabrication of nanomaterials for environmental applications.