US3657113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separating fluids with selective membranes
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1970-02-03
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Granted: 1972-04-18
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Expires: 1990-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Gaseous or liquid components are concentrated or separated from others differing in molecular size or shape and/or solubility characteristics in homogeneous multicomponent mixtures (e.g., concentrating hydrogen in a hydrogen-methane mixture) by permeation through an ultrathin cross-linked plasma-discharge polymerizate layer of high permselectivity and controlled thickness supported on or bonded to a face of a fluid-permeable substrate. Membranes are prepared by ionizing and polymerizing vaporized monomeric organic compounds (e.g., benzonitrile) at low subatmospheric pressures by a plasma glow discharge which deposits and bonds unbroken cross-linked coatings of about 0.1 to 0.5 micron total thickness onto thicker preformed substrates (e.g., films of polymeric siloxanes or polyphenylene oxide) of adequate strength.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold F Stancell
- 👤 Arthur T Spencer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:37
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D69/00; B01D69/12; B01D69/125; B01D69/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1 in which said cross-linked polymerizate layer is formed by a plasma glow discharge in an atmosphere of at least one vaporized ionizable monomeric organic compound at an absolute pressure between about 0.1 and 5 Torr.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 1 in which said device is a composite membrane prepared by the deposition of said cross-linked polymerizate layer onto said substrate by a plurality of plasma glow discharges in a plurality of different atmospheres each containing vapors of different ionizable monomeric organic compounds at subatmospheric pressures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 3 in which said pressures are between about 0.1 and 5 torr.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the total thickness of said polymerizate is aT least about 0.03 micron and the thickness of said substrate is at least about 0.0003 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A process according to claim 1 in which said device is a composite membrane prepared by the deposition of said cross-linked polymerizate layer directly onto a nonporous resinous substrate of at least substantial amorphous polymer content by a plasma glow discharge in an atmosphere of a vaporized ionizable monomeric organic compound having a vapor pressure of at least about 0.5 mm. of mercury at a temperature below the threshold of thermal degradation of said resinous substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 6 in which the total thickness of said polymerizate is at least about 0.03 micron and the thickness of said substrate is at least about 0.0003 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 6 in which the total thickness of said polymerizate is between about 0.03 and 2 microns and the thickness of said substrate is between about 0.0003 and 0.0250 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 6 in which the total thickness of said polymerizate is between about 0.1 and 1.0 micron and the thickness of said substrate is between about 0.0005 and 0.0250 inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process according to claim 1 in which said process is employed for at least partially separating two fluid substances having at least one of the characteristics of (A) a difference of at least about 10 percent in the cross-sectional areas of the molecules of said substances and (B) a difference of at least about 0.2(cal./cc.)l/2 in the solubility parameters of said substances.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 10 in which two miscible liquid substances in admixture are segregated by the selective permeation of one of said liquid substances through said permselective device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 10 in which two gaseous substances in admixture are segregated by the selective permeation of one of said gaseous substances through said permselective device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 10 in which a mixture containing said two fluid substances is subjected to said selective permeation operation to produce a permeant effluent and a nonpermeant effluent, and at least one of said effluents is thereafter separately subjected to at least one repetition of said selective permeation operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1 in which hydrogen is at least partially separated from a mixture thereof with at least one gaseous organic compound.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 in which hydrogen is at least partially separated from a mixture thereof with at least one gaseous hydrocarbon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 15 in which the hydrogen-rich permeation effluent from said device is thereafter subjected to at least one repetition of said selective permeation operation to produce hydrogen of higher purity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 in which hydrogen is at least partially separated from a mixture containing hydrogen and methane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA727436A
Cited
US3228876A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |