Chelate membrane from poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly( n ‐salicylidene allyl amine) blend. II. Effect of co(II) content on oxygen/nitrogen separation

Facilitated transport of oxygen was performed through chelate membranes containing cobalt with selective oxygen binding ability as a fixed oxygen carrier. Chelate membranes were obtained from Schiff base membranes after treating a poly(allyl amine) (PAAm) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend with salicylaldehyde. It is confirmed that the OO stretching peak through a frequency change in FTIR could be seen at 1150 cm −1 between cobalt in the membrane and incoming oxygen. The permeability of oxygen through Schiff base membranes was 2.01−2.98 × 10 −13 [cm 3 (STP) cm 2 /cm s cmHg] and oxygen permselectivity was in the range of 1.83−3.27. For chelate membranes, both the permeability of oxygen and oxygen selectivity increased to 2.15−2.82 × 10 −12 [cm 3 (STP) cm 2 /cm s cmHg] and around 8, respectively. Permselectivity of chelate increased as a result of facilitation of O 2 and inhibition of N 2 transport. Detailed results and the mechanism of facilitation of oxygen are discussed on the basis of molecular interactions. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.