Separation of polar gases from nonpolar gases

Claim 2

A multicomponent membrane, useful for the separation of fluid components of a fluid feed mixture, comprising a mixture of a glycol plasticizer and an organic polymer cast on a porous support which has been subjected to treatment prior to the casting of said mixture thereon by contact with a polyhydric alcohol.

Claim 3

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said glycol plasticizer has a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 600.

Claim 4

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said porous support has a ratio of total surface area to total pore cross-sectional area of from about 5:1 to about 900:1.

Claim 5

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said porous support is cellulose acetate.

Claim 6

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said porous support is polysulfone.

Claim 7

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said organic polymer is a silicon rubber.

Claim 8

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said polyhydric alcohol is glycerol.

Claim 9

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said polyhydric alcohol is ethylene glycol.

Claim 10

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said polyhydric alcohol is propylene glycol.

Claim 11

The multicomponent membrane as set forth in claim 1 in which said polyhydric alcohol is pentaerythritol.

Claim 12

A process for the separation of a polar gas from a nonpolar gas in a feed mixture containing said gases which comprises contacting said mixture with the upstream face of a multicomponent membrane which comprises a mixture of a glycol plasticizer having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 600 and an organic polymer cast on a porous support, said support having a ratio of total surface area to total pore cross-sectional area of from about 5:1 to about 900:1 and which has been subjected to pretreatment prior to the casting of said mixture thereon by contact with a polyhydric alcohol, at separation conditions, in which said polar gas has a greater steady state permeability than said nonpolar gas, and recovering the permeate which emanates from the downstream face of said membrane, said permeate comprising a product mixture in which the proportion of polar gas to nonpolar gas is greater than the proportion of polar gas to nonpolar gas in said feed mixture.

Claim 13

A process for the separation of a polar gas from a nonpolar gas in a feed mixture containing said gases which comprises contacting said mixture with the upstream face of a multicomponent membrane which comprises a mixture of a glycol plasticizer having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 600 and an organic polymer cast on a porous support, said support having a ratio of total surface area to total pore cross-sectional area of from about 5:1 to about 900:1 and which has been subjected to pretreatment prior to the casting of said mixture thereon by contact with a polyhydric alcohol, at separation conditions, in which said polar gas has a greater steady state permeability than said nonpolar gas, and recovering the permeate which emanates from the downstream face of said membrane, said permeate comprising a product mixture in which the proportion of polar gas to nonpolar gas is greater than the proportion of polar gas to nonpolar gas in said feed mixture.

Claim 14

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said separation conditions include ambient temperatures and a pressure in the range of from about 10 to about 500 pounds per square inch gauge.

Claim 15

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said porous support comprises cellulose acetate.

Claim 16

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said porous support comprises polysulfone.

Claim 17

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said organic polymer comprises silicon rubber.

Claim 18

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polyhydric alcohol comprises glycerol.

Claim 19

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polyhydric alcohol comprises ethylene glycol.

Claim 20

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polyhydric alcohol comprises propylene glycol.

Claim 21

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polyhydric alcohol comprises pentaerythritol.

Claim 22

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polar gas is ammonia and said nonpolar gas is a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen.

Claim 23

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polar gas is hydrogen sulfide and said nonpolar gas is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases.

Claim 24

The process as set forth in claim 11 in which said polar gas is sulfur dioxide and said nonpolar gas is a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen.