US3779907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid membrane process for the separation of aqueous mixtures
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1971-08-25
•
Granted: 1973-12-18
•
Expires: 1991-08-25
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a process for the removal of dissolved species from aqueous solutions, which comprises contacting said aqueous solution with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an exterior phase which is characterized as being immiscible with said aqueous solution and yet permeable to said dissolved species, and an interior phase which contains a reactant capable of converting said dissolved species to a non-permeable form. The dissolved species permeate the exterior phase, into the interior phase where they are converted into nonpermeable forms and thus retained in the interior phase of said emulsion. The aqueous solution, depleted in said dissolved species, is separated from said emulsion and the emulsion cycled for reuse. In one preferred embodiment said dissolved species are ions, and an ion exchange compound is incorporated in the exterior phase of the emulsion, to promote the permeation of said ions through the exterior phase.
Inventors
- 👤 A Shrier
- 👤 N Li
- 👤 R Cahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:47
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G21/00; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; B01D61/40; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/26; C10G31/00; C10G31/11; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said exterior phase comprises from about 0.01 to 10 weight percent of an oil soluble surfactant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said interior phase is aqueous.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is converted to a nonpermeable form by complexing with a reactant in the interior phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is an ion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said exterior phase comprises an ion exchange compound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said ion is a cation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said exterior phase comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acids, organophosphoric acids and carboxylic acids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said ion is an anion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said exterior phase comrpises an amine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is converted to a nonpermeable form in the interior phase by neutralization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said dissolved species is a weak acid and is neutralized in the interior phase by a strong base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said weak acid is selected from the group consisting of CO2, SO2, acetic acid, H2S, phenol, HCN and citric acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said dissolved species is a weak base and is neutraLized in the interior phase by a strong acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said dissolved species is selected from the group consisting of NH3 and nitrogen containing organic compounds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is converted to a nonpermeable form by precipitating in the interior phase.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said dissolved species is selected from the group consisting of metal ions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Cd and Hg.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said surfactant is Span 80.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said ion exchange compound is selected from the group consisting of sulfonated styrene copolymers, petroleum sulfonic acids, napthenic acids, sulfonated phenol formaldehyde copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers, and styrene acrylic acid copolymers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said ion exchange compound is selected from compounds having the general formula:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 21 wherein R3 and R4 together form an alkyl succinic radical having the general formula
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2761563A
Cited
US2773027A
Cited
US3259568A
Cited
US3446732A
Cited
US3389078A
Cited
US3410794A
Cited
US3454489A
Cited
US3522346A
Cited
US3617546A
Cited
US3637488A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |