Facilities
Constant volume, variable pressure sorption system (dual chamber pressure decay, 2 units)
Pure gas sorption in glassy and rubbery polymers, as well as composite membranes, can be measured up to 34 atm and in the -20/120°C temperature range. Resolution can be improved by acting on the volume of the sorption chamber. Gas diffusion coefficient in polymers is measured from the analysis of sorption kinetics, and sorption coefficient is measured from equilibrium pressure data. The system is designed to work with aggressive species, such as ammonia.
Vapor sorption-diffusion system
It is a dual-chambers pressure decay system, equipped with a sub-atmospheric pressure transducer, to work with condensable vapors in the activity range 0-0.75.
Constant volume, variable pressure permeation system (2 units)
Pure gas permeability and diffusivity in glassy and rubbery polymers, as well as composite membranes, can be measured up to 68 atm and in the -20/120°C temperature range. Resolution can be improved by properly changing the downstream volume. The system is designed to work with aggressive species, such as ammonia.
High-pressure optical dilatometer
Gas and vapor sorption-induced swelling in polymers is measured up to 30 atm. The system is designed to work with aggressive species, such as ammonia.
High precision analytical balances
Density kit (Archimede's balance)
It is used to measure the density of the materials created in our laboratory.
Cross-flow Organic Solvent Reverse Osmosis-Nanofiltration (OSRO/OSN) system
The system can work with pure liquids and multicomponent mixtures in the pressure range 1-30 atm above and below ambient temperature. Permeability and selectivity are calculated using GC analysis.
Trace 1310 Gas Chromatograph
It is part of our OSRO/OSN system.
Genesys 50 UV-vis spectrophotometer
This facility is used to evaluate selectivity in OSN experiments, as well as to study the morphology or our materials.
Dead-end liquid permeation cell
Pure and mixed liquid permeability through flat membranes can be measured. The permeate is collected into a graduate cylinder and its composition is measured via GC.
Vacuum oven (max T= 300°C)
Membrane Casting station
Our lab is set to cast and anneal glassy, rubbery as well as composite flat membranes.
Gardner casting knife
It is used to fabricate TFCM (thin film composite membranes)
Spin Coater
It is used to fabricate self-standing ultra-thin membranes (< 2mm)
Glassware
(round-bottom flasks, refluxes, crystallizers, etc.)
UV cross-linker
Schlenk line (i.e., Vacuum/Inert Gas Manifolds for polymer synthesis)
Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50R FTIR Spectrometer
Chemical cabinet and refrigerator
SAFETY
Spreading the culture of safety is integrating part of our educational efforts, as a mature safety aptitude is an indispensable premise to successfully execute any academic/industrial duties.
Our Lab is committed to create and maintain a safe and healthy working environment for researchers at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctorate).
We actively collaborate with Dr. David Clark (EHSO, OU Environmental Health and Safety Office) to develop and update the best SOP procedures associated to the use of chemicals, cylinders and high pressure devices, as well as to the disposal of chemical wastes.
Safety Officer: Will Box, wb@ou.edu
