US4586939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for separating gaseous mixtures using a semipermeable membrane constructed from substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer
Assignee: Standard Oil Co
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Filing: 1983-11-29
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 2003-11-29
Abstract
Abstract The process for the separation of gases from a mixture is improved by using as the separation vehicle a single layer semipermeable membrane containing at least about 25 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer containing at least about 50 mole percent of structural units of the formula <IMAGE> I wherein each R is independently a C1 to C8 aliphatic; a C5 to C7 cycloaliphatic; a C1 to C8 alkoxy radical; a C6 to C12 aromatic radical or an inertly-substituted derivative of any one of them, each radical being free of a tertiary alpha-carbon atom, each X is independently hydrogen or a radical at least the size of a chloride radical, with the proviso that at least one X is not hydrogen. The process can also be practiced with a semipermeable membrane containing at least about 50 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) copolymer containing from about 80 to 95 mole percent of structural units of the formula <IMAGE> III and from about 5 to 20 mole percent of structural units of the formula <IMAGE> IV
Inventors
- 👤 George S. Li
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:29
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/52; B01D71/522; B01D71/5223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a process for the separation of gases from a mixture containing at least two gases into two fractions, one fraction being enriched with at least one of said gases and the other fraction being depleted in same, the process comprising: contacting the gaseous mixture with a semipermeable membrane in such a manner that a portion of the gaseous mixture selectively passes through the membrane resulting in the enriched fraction being on one side of the membrane and the depleted fraction being on the other side of the membrane, the improvement comprising the use of a single layer semipermeable membrane containing at least about 25 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer containing at least about 50 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR12## wherein each R is independently a C 1 to C 8 aliphatic radical; a C 5 to C 7 cycloaliphatic radical; a C 1 to C 8 alkoxy radical; a C 6 to C 12 aromatic radical or an inertly-substituted derivative of any one of them, each radical being free of a tertiary alpha-carbon atom; and each X is independently hydrogen or a halide radical at least the size of a chloride radical, with the proviso that at least one X is not hydrogen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a process for the separation of gases from a mixture containing at least two gases into two fractions, one fraction being enriched with at least one of said gases and the other fraction being depleted in same, the process comprising: contacting the gaseous mixture with a semipermeable membrane in such a manner that a portion of the gaseous mixture selectively passes through the membrane resulting in the enriched fraction being on one side of the membrane and the depleted fraction being on the other side of the membrane, the improvement comprising the use of a single layer semipermeable membrane containing at least about 25 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer containing at least about 50 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR12## wherein each R is independently a C 1 to C 8 aliphatic radical; a C 5 to C 7 cycloaliphatic radical; a C 1 to C 8 alkoxy radical; a C 6 to C 12 aromatic radical or an inertly-substituted derivative of any one of them, each radical being free of a tertiary alpha-carbon atom; and each X is independently hydrogen or a halide radical at least the size of a chloride radical, with the proviso that at least one X is not hydrogen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein each R is independently a C 1 to C 8 alkyl radical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein each R is a methyl radical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said halide is a bromide radical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the substitute poly(arylene oxide) polymer contains at least about 75 mole percent of the structural units of formula I.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the gaseous mixture is natural gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the gaseous mixture is air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer consists essentially of structural units of formula I.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the membrane contains at least about 50 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the membrane contains at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer in combination with a compatible polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the compatible polymer is poly(aryl sulfone) or poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the membrane contains at least about 75 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the membrane is a hollow fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the membrane has a thickness less than about 10 mils.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the membrane contains essentially ring-brominated poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylene oxide).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the membrane is cast as a coating on a substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the coated substrate is a hollow fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gases in said mixture are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, water vapor and C 1 to C 4 hydrocarbons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a process for the separation of gases from a mixture containing at least two gases into two fractions, one fraction being enriched with at least one of said gases and the other fraction being depleted in same, the process comprising: contacting the gaseous mixture with a semipermeable membrane in such a manner that a portion of the gaseous mixture selectively passes through the membrane resulting in the enriched fraction being on one side of the membrane and the depleted fraction being on the other side of the membrane, the improvement comprising the use of a semipermeable membrane containing at least about 50 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) copolymer containing from about 80 to 95 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR13## and from about 5 to 20 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR14##
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a process for the separation of gases from a mixture containing at least two gases into two fractions, one fraction being enriched with at least one of said gases and the other fraction being depleted in same, the process comprising: contacting the gaseous mixture with a semipermeable membrane in such a manner that a portion of the gaseous mixture selectively passes through the membrane resulting in the enriched fraction being on one side of the membrane and the depleted fraction being on the other side of the membrane, the improvement comprising the use of a semipermeable membrane containing at least about 50 weight percent, based upon the total weight of the membrane, of at least one substituted poly(arylene oxide) copolymer containing from about 80 to 95 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR13## and from about 5 to 20 mole percent of structural units of the formula ##STR14##
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the substituted poly(arylene oxide) copolymer contains 95 mole percent of the structural units of formula III and 5 mole percent of the structural units of formula IV.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the membrane contains 100 weight percent of the copolymer formed by structural units of formula III and formula IV.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the gaseous mixture is air.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the gaseous mixture is natural gas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the membrane is cast as a coating on a substrate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the coated substrate is a hollow fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the membrane is a hollow fiber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the membrane has a thickness less than about 10 mils.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the gases in said mixture are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, water vapor and C 1 to C 4 hydrocarbons.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-11-04 | 1990-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-05 | 1993-11-04 | 1994-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-05 | 1997-11-04 | 1998-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |