US4060566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Membrane process for separating materials
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1975-11-19
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Granted: 1977-11-29
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Expires: 1995-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for separating components, e.g., olefinically-unsaturated hydrocarbons, from mixtures with other materials by liquid barrier permeation and metal-complexing techniques using a semi-permeable membrane and a partial pressure differential across the membrane for the material being separated. The process is characterized by the use of elevated pressure on the feed side of the membrane, preferably at least about 200 psig, a low total pressure differential, if any, across the membrane, and preferably a partial pressure of the material being separated on the exit side of the membrane which is at least about 20 psi less than on the feed side. The separated material may be removed with advantage by the use of a liquid solvent in which the material is soluble, and preferably the concentration of the material in the solvent is up to about 25 weight percent of saturation when the solvent is charged to the exit side of the membrane. The separation of ethylene from its mixture with methane and ethane is of particular interest.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Yahnke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:29
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D53/228; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; B01D63/00; B01D63/02; C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/148; C07C7/152; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A process for separating a material from a fluid mixture comprising contacting said mixture containing said material with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, semi-permeable membrane having in contact therewith an aqueous liquid barrier having metal-containing ion which combine with said material to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said material on a second side of the semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said material on said first side to provide separated material on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, and removing said separated material from the vicinity of the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the total pressure on the second side is about 75 to 125% of the total pressure of the mixture on the first side, and the latter total pressure is at least about 50 psig.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A process for separating a material from a fluid mixture comprising contacting said mixture containing said material with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, semi-permeable membrane having in contact therewith an aqueous liquid barrier having metal-containing ion which combine with said material to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said material on a second side of the semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said material on said first side to provide separated material on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, and removing said separated material from the vicinity of the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the total pressure on the second side is about 75 to 125% of the total pressure of the mixture on the first side, and the latter total pressure is at least about 50 psig.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the semi-permeable membrane is in hollow fiber form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2 in which said first membrane side is the outer side of the hollow fiber membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 2 in which the fluid mixture contains ethylene, methane and ethane, and ethylene is separated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 4 in which said metal-containing ions are silver ions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 in which said removal from said second side involves contacting said second side with a liquid solvent in which said separated material is soluble.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 6 in which the liquid solvent used to remove the separated material is up to about 25% saturated with the latter when initially contacted with said second side.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7 in which said separated material is olefin of 2 to 4 carbon atoms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 8 in which said olefin is comprised of ethylene and said mixture contains ethylene, methane and ethane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 in which said metalcontaining ions are silver ions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10 in which said solvent is comprised of paraffin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 10 in which said membrane is in hollow fiber form and said first side is the outer side of said fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for the separation of a material from a fluid mixture comprising contacting said mixture containing said material at a total pressure of at least about 200 psig with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, hydrophilic, semi-permeable membrane having at least partially therein an aqueous liquid barrier having dissolved therein metal-containing ions which combine with said material to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said material on a second side of the semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said material on said first side to provide separated material on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, said partial pressure on said first side being at least about 20 psi greater than said partial pressure on said second side, and removing said separated material from the vicinity of the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the total pressure on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane is within about 10 psi of that of said first side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for the separation of a material from a fluid mixture comprising contacting said mixture containing said material at a total pressure of at least about 200 psig with a first side of an essentially solid, water-insoluble, hydrophilic, semi-permeable membrane having at least partially therein an aqueous liquid barrier having dissolved therein metal-containing ions which combine with said material to form a water-soluble complex, the partial pressure of said material on a second side of the semi-permeable membrane being sufficiently less than the partial pressure of said material on said first side to provide separated material on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, said partial pressure on said first side being at least about 20 psi greater than said partial pressure on said second side, and removing said separated material from the vicinity of the second side of the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the total pressure on the second side of the semi-permeable membrane is within about 10 psi of that of said first side.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the semi-permeable membrane is in hollow fiber form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 in which said first membrane side is the outer side of the hollow fiber membrane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 14 in which the fluid mixture contains ethylene, methane and ethane, and ethylene is separated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 16 in which said metal-containing ions are silver ions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 13 in which said removal from said second side involves contacting said second side with a liquid solvent in which said separated material is soluble.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 18 in which said separated material is olefin of 2 to 4 carbon atoms.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 19 in which said olefin is comprised of ethylene and said mixture contains ethylene, methane and ethane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 20 in which said metal-containing ions are silver ions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 21 in which said solvent is comprised of paraffin.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 21 in which said membrane is in hollow fiber form and said first side is the outer side of said fiber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 in which said membrane comprises nylon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 in which said membrane comprises nylon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 25 in which said membrane comprises N-alkoxyalkyl polyamide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3770842A
Cited
US3864418A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-28 | 1981-05-30 | 1981-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-28 | 1985-05-30 | 1985-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-28 | 1989-05-30 | 1989-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |