Towards a Green Synthesis of Crosslinked Sulfonated PEEK Cation Exchange Membrane for Combined CO2 Remediation and Wastewater Treatment

Promovendus/a: Stef Depuydt

Promotor(en): Prof. dr. ir. Bart Van der Bruggen

To build a more sustainable future, we need greener materials and cleaner production methods. This research focuses on improving a key component used in green technologies like CO2 conversion, artificial photosynthesis, and fuel cells: cation exchange membranes (CEMs). These thin filters allow charged particles to pass through and play a vital role in many chemical processes.

The fabrication of today's CEMs often rely on harmful chemicals that are bad for the environment and health. In this PhD work, new membranes were developed using safer, non-toxic materials and environmentally friendly solvents.

A special type of plastic called sPEEK was used and modified in a way that made the membranes both efficient and more resistant to unwanted leaks of chemicals like methanol. Several green solvents were tested, and new combinations were found that gave better performance than the commonly used membrane called Nafion.

The best membranes were then tested in real systems to clean water and convert CO₂. Although, they still know some challengens, they showed similar performances while being much more environmentally friendly. This research shows that high-performance, sustainable membranes are possible and can help support cleaner technologies.