Patent US4432866A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4432866A
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Membrane separation process
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1981-10-21
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Granted: 1984-02-21
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Expires: 2001-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for separating a mixture into a first fraction and a second fraction is disclosed. The method comprises passing the mixture into a decantation zone where the solution is separated into a first fraction relatively rich in a first compound and a second fraction relatively deficient in the first compound. One of the separated fractions subsequently is passed to a membrane separation zone for further purification. The subject invention is of particular utility in petroleum processing, where the solution passed to the decantation zone may be a petroleum processing fraction, such as filtrate from a dewaxing zone or an extract or raffinate from an extraction separation zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore H. West
- 👤 John A. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:53
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/14; B01D61/145; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/08; B01D17/085; B01D61/02; B01D61/025; B01D2311/00; B01D2311/02; B01D2311/08; C; C10; C10G; C10G2400/00; C10G2400/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for separating a lube oil contaminant from a lube oil feedstock containing the contaminant, said method comprising: (a) passing the lube oil feedstock and a solvent selectively miscible with the contaminant into a solvent extraction zone wherein at least a portion of the lube oil contaminant is separated from the feedstock by the solvent; (b) passing the solvent containing the lube oil contaminant from the extraction zone into a liquid-liquid decantation zone wherein the solvent containing lube oil contaminant is separated into a first liquid fraction relatively rich in the lube oil contaminant and a second liquid fraction relatively deficient in the lube oil contaminant; (c) passing first liquid fraction from the decantation zone to a membrane separation zone, wherein the first liquid fraction is still further separated into a retentate relatively rich in the lube oil contaminant, and a permeate relatively deficient in the lube oil contaminant; (d) recirculating permeate to the solvent extraction zone without further purification; and (e) passing retentate from the membrane separation zone to a distillation zone wherein the retentate is separated into a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction, distillate being recycled to the solvent extraction zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for separating a lube oil contaminant from a lube oil feedstock containing the contaminant, said method comprising: (a) passing the lube oil feedstock and a solvent selectively miscible with the contaminant into a solvent extraction zone wherein at least a portion of the lube oil contaminant is separated from the feedstock by the solvent; (b) passing the solvent containing the lube oil contaminant from the extraction zone into a liquid-liquid decantation zone wherein the solvent containing lube oil contaminant is separated into a first liquid fraction relatively rich in the lube oil contaminant and a second liquid fraction relatively deficient in the lube oil contaminant; (c) passing first liquid fraction from the decantation zone to a membrane separation zone, wherein the first liquid fraction is still further separated into a retentate relatively rich in the lube oil contaminant, and a permeate relatively deficient in the lube oil contaminant; (d) recirculating permeate to the solvent extraction zone without further purification; and (e) passing retentate from the membrane separation zone to a distillation zone wherein the retentate is separated into a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction, distillate being recycled to the solvent extraction zone.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for separating a feedstock, said method comprising: A. passing the feedstock into a separation zone wherein the feedstock is contacted with a liquid to form a separable mixture comprising a plurality of compounds; B. passing the mixture into a liquid-liquid decantation zone wherein the mixture is separated into a first liquid fraction relatively rich in a first compound and a second liquid fraction relatively deficient in the first compound; C. passing one of the liquid fractions from the decantation zone into a membrane separation zone wherein the fraction is still further separated into a permeate and a retentate having unequal concentrations of the first compound; D. passing permeate from the membrane separation zone to the separation zone without further processing; and E. passing retentate from the membrane separation zone to a distillation zone wherein the retentate is separated into a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction, distillate being recycled to the separation zone.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for separating a feedstock, said method comprising: A. passing the feedstock into a separation zone wherein the feedstock is contacted with a liquid to form a separable mixture comprising a plurality of compounds; B. passing the mixture into a liquid-liquid decantation zone wherein the mixture is separated into a first liquid fraction relatively rich in a first compound and a second liquid fraction relatively deficient in the first compound; C. passing one of the liquid fractions from the decantation zone into a membrane separation zone wherein the fraction is still further separated into a permeate and a retentate having unequal concentrations of the first compound; D. passing permeate from the membrane separation zone to the separation zone without further processing; and E. passing retentate from the membrane separation zone to a distillation zone wherein the retentate is separated into a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction, distillate being recycled to the separation zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first compound comprises a hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the first compound is a lube oil contaminant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the mixture comprises raffinate from an extraction zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the mixture comprises extract from an extraction and/or dewaxing zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the temperature of the mixture is reduced prior to and/or during the residence of the mixture in the decantation zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 7 wherein an antisolvent is added to the mixture to promote the separation of the mixture into a first fraction and a second fraction in the decantation zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the antisolvent added to the mixture is selected from the class consisting of water, methyl ethyl ketone and acetone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the separation zone comprises a solvent extraction zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the separation zone comprises a dewaxing zone.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for separating a feedstock, said method comprising: A. passing the feedstock into a solvent dewaxing zone wherein the feedstock is contacted with solvent to form a separable mixture comprising a plurality of compounds; B. passing the mixture into a liquid-liquid decantation zone wherein the mixture is separated into a first liquid fraction relatively rich in a first compound and a second liquid fraction relatively deficient in the first compound; C. passing one of the liquid fractions from the decantation zone into a membrane separation zone adapted to decrease the quantity of the liquid fraction subsequently processed by separating the fraction into a permeate and a retentate having unequal concentrations of the first compound; D. passing permeate from the membrane separation zone to the solvent dewaxing zone without further processing; and E. passing retentate from the membrane separation zone to a distillation zone wherein the retentate is separated into a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction, distillate being recycled to the solvent dewaxing zone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for separating a feedstock, said method comprising: A. passing the feedstock into a solvent dewaxing zone wherein the feedstock is contacted with solvent to form a separable mixture comprising a plurality of compounds; B. passing the mixture into a liquid-liquid decantation zone wherein the mixture is separated into a first liquid fraction relatively rich in a first compound and a second liquid fraction relatively deficient in the first compound; C. passing one of the liquid fractions from the decantation zone into a membrane separation zone adapted to decrease the quantity of the liquid fraction subsequently processed by separating the fraction into a permeate and a retentate having unequal concentrations of the first compound; D. passing permeate from the membrane separation zone to the solvent dewaxing zone without further processing; and E. passing retentate from the membrane separation zone to a distillation zone wherein the retentate is separated into a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction, distillate being recycled to the solvent dewaxing zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-20 | 1987-08-22 | 1988-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-20 | 1991-08-22 | 1992-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-20 | 1995-08-22 | 1996-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |