US4015955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid separation process and membrane
Assignee: Standard Oil Co
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Filing: 1975-02-05
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Granted: 1977-04-05
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Expires: 1995-02-05
Abstract
Abstract There is described an improved separation membrane-liquid barrier system of the type containing complex-forming, metal-containing ionic components, and an improved separation process in which the membrane-liquid barrier is employed. The membrane is in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier containing cuprous ions, such as a cuprous salt or a cuprous salt complex, e.g. a CuCl complex, preferably a CuCl--NH 4 Cl--HCl complex, and the barrier is in contact with a reducing agent that retards the complexing Cu + ion from being oxidized to Cu + 2 . The reducing agent is relatively stable when positioned in the membrane and is not unduly oxidized by air nor does it unduly interfere with the essential function of the cuprous ions during the separation process. Elemental copper may function as a reducing agent that retards oxidation of Cu + ion to Cu + 2 . The liquid barrier containing complex-forming cuprous ions can be subjected to a strong reducing agent during the separation process to reduce some of the cuprous ions to elemental copper.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Steigelmann
- 👤 Charles S. Sokol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:32
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/148; C07C7/152; C07C7/156
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A membrane-liquid barrier system comprising a semi-permeable membrane film and an aqueous liquid barrier in contact with said film, said liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component and said barrier being in contact with a reducing agent in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said cuprous ion component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A membrane-liquid barrier system comprising a semi-permeable membrane film and an aqueous liquid barrier in contact with said film, said liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component and said barrier being in contact with a reducing agent in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said cuprous ion component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said liquid barrier contains from about 2 to about 40% by weight of reducing agent based on the weight of the total solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said complex-forming cuprous ion component is a cuprous ion complex which includes ammonium ions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane of claim 3 wherein said cuprous ion complex further includes a mineral acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The membrane of claim 4 wherein said cuprous ion complex is a cuprous chloride-ammonium chloride-hydrochloric acid complex.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The membrane of claim 5 wherein said reducing agent is elemental copper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The membrane of claim 6 wherein said elemental copper is combined with cuprous chloride before or during the addition of ammonium chloride thereto to retard CuCl degradation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said reducing agent is elemental copper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A membrane-liquid barrier system comprising a semi-permeable, water-soluble membrane film in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier, said aqueous liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component which, in the presence of water, provides cations that are capable of forming a complex with aliphatically unsaturated hydrocarbons, and said aqueous liquid barrier being in contact with a reducing agent in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said cations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A membrane-liquid barrier system comprising a semi-permeable, water-soluble membrane film in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier, said aqueous liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component which, in the presence of water, provides cations that are capable of forming a complex with aliphatically unsaturated hydrocarbons, and said aqueous liquid barrier being in contact with a reducing agent in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said cations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The membrane of claim 9 wherein said aqueous liquid barrier contains from about 2 to about 40% by weight of reducing agent based on the weight of the total solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The membrane of claim 9 wherein said complex-forming cuprous ion component is a cuprous ion complex which includes ammonium ions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane of claim 11 wherein said cuprous ion complex further includes a mineral acid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The membrane of claim 12 wherein said cuprous ion complex is a cuprous chloride-ammonium chloride-hydrochloric acid complex.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The membrane of claim 13 wherein said reducing agent is elemental copper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The membrane of claim 14 wherein said elemental copper is combined with cuprous chloride before or during the addition of ammonium chloride thereto to retard CuCl degradation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a method for separating a material from a fluid mixture containing said material and at least one other component which comprises contacting said mixture with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, semi-permeable membrane in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component which ions combine with said material to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said material on a second side of said semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said material in said mixture to provide separated material on said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, and removing said separated material from the vicinity of said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, the improvement which comprises providing a reducing agent in contact with said aqueous liquid barrier in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said ions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a method for separating a material from a fluid mixture containing said material and at least one other component which comprises contacting said mixture with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, semi-permeable membrane in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component which ions combine with said material to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said material on a second side of said semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said material in said mixture to provide separated material on said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, and removing said separated material from the vicinity of said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, the improvement which comprises providing a reducing agent in contact with said aqueous liquid barrier in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said ions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 in which said reducing agent is elemental copper.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a method for separating aliphatically-unsaturated hydrocarbon of 2 to 4 carbon atoms which comprises contacting a vaporous mixture containing said aliphatically-unsaturated hydrocarbon with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, semi-permeable membrane being permeable to said vaporous mixture in the absence of said aqueous liquid, said liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component which ions combine with said unsaturated hydrocarbon to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said unsaturated hydrocarbon on a second side of said semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said unsaturated hydrocarbon in said vaporous mixture ot provide separated unsaturated hydrocarbon on said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, and removing separated unsaturated hydrocarbon from the vicinity of said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, the improvement which comprises providing a reducing agent in contact with said aqueous liquid barrier in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said ions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a method for separating aliphatically-unsaturated hydrocarbon of 2 to 4 carbon atoms which comprises contacting a vaporous mixture containing said aliphatically-unsaturated hydrocarbon with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, semi-permeable membrane being permeable to said vaporous mixture in the absence of said aqueous liquid, said liquid barrier having dissolved therein a complex-forming cuprous ion component which ions combine with said unsaturated hydrocarbon to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said unsaturated hydrocarbon on a second side of said semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said unsaturated hydrocarbon in said vaporous mixture ot provide separated unsaturated hydrocarbon on said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, and removing separated unsaturated hydrocarbon from the vicinity of said second side of said semi-permeable membrane, the improvement which comprises providing a reducing agent in contact with said aqueous liquid barrier in an amount sufficient to retard oxidation of said ions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said aqueous liquid barrier contains from about 2 to about 40% by weight of reducing agent based on the weight of the total solution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said complex-forming cuprous ion component is a cuprous ion complex and includes ammonium ions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said cuprous ion complex further includes a mineral acid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said cuprous ion complex is a cuprous chloride-ammonium chloride-hydrochloric acid complex.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said reducing agent is elemental copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |