Abstract: A new type of silicone rubber membranes with facilitated transport properties for oxygen was prepared by using 11-alkenoic acid cobalt, a silicone rubber containing vinyl groups of 5%(molar fraction), a hydrogen-containing silicon oil and chlorine platinum acid. The solution casting and vulcanization were carried out simultaneously at room temperature. The studies on permselectivities show that O₂ permeability coefficients increase with decreasing oxygen pressure difference, but N₂ permeability coefficients are independent of nitrogen pressure difference. The cause is considered that a polymer cobalt complex is formed to possess an ability of facilitated transport for oxygen. This result leads to the increases in both oxygen permeability coefficient and oxygen/nitrogen separation coefficient at the same time. For example, oxygen permeability coefficient of 750 Barrer and oxygen nitrogen separation coefficient of 3.09 were obtained at a pressure difference of 0.05 MPa for the membrane containing 11-alkenoic acid cobalt of 2.5%(mass fraction). As high as 5% of 11-alkenoic acid cobalt could be added into the membrane, its oxygen permeability coefficient and oxygen/nitrogen separation coefficient increase to 802 Barrer and 3.34 at the pressure difference of 0.05 MPa, respectively.

Key words: Gas separation membrane, Silicone rubber, Facilitated transport, 11-Alkenoic acid cobalt