US4617029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for gas separation
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
•
Filing: 1985-03-01
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2005-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A process for separating a gas from a mixture of gases comprises passing the gas mixture over a membrane, selectively permeable by the gas being separated, owing to the occurrence of one or more reversible oxidation-reduction reactions between a continuous layer of active molten material, immobilized in a rigid, porous, inert support therefor, and the gas being separated.
Inventors
- 👤 Guido P. Pez
- 👤 Richard T. Carlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D53/228; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A process for separating a gas from at least one other gas in a mixture, comprising passing the mixture over a membrane selectively permeable to the gas being separated, which membrane comprises a thin, porous, inert support within the pores of which is immobilized an active material and the active material is a molten salt capable of undergoing one or more reversible oxidation-reduction reactions with the gas being separated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for separating a gas from at least one other gas in a mixture, comprising passing the mixture over a membrane selectively permeable to the gas being separated, which membrane comprises a thin, porous, inert support within the pores of which is immobilized an active material and the active material is a molten salt capable of undergoing one or more reversible oxidation-reduction reactions with the gas being separated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reversible oxidation-reduction reaction is nitrate-nitrite interconversion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reversible oxidation-reduction reaction is one or more of oxide-superoxide, oxide-peroxide or peroxide-superoxide interconversions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reversible oxidation-reduction reaction is hydrogen-hydride interconversion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reversible oxidation-reduction reaction is nitrate-nitrite interconversion, oxygen is the gas being separated and the active material in the membrane is molten lithium nitrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reversible oxidation-reduction reaction is nitrate-nitrite interconversion, the gas being separated from the mixture is oxygen and the active material in the membrane is molten sodium nitrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the reversible oxidation-reduction reaction is nitrate-nitrite interconversion, the gas being separated from the mixture is oxygen and the active material in the membrane is a mixture of two or more of sodium nitrate, lithium nitrate and potassium nitrate, containing a maximum of 99% by weight of any of the nitrates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, including removing gas passing through the membrane by a stream of sweep gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, including removing gas passing through the membrane using a compressor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the porous membrane containing the molten salt is supported in a macroporous support comprising metallic, ceramic or polymeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the membrane is contained within a module in the configuration of hollow fibers, a spiral winding or a series of flat plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A process for separating a gas from at least one other gas in a mixture comprising introducing the mixture into a module having at least a feed inlet and a permeate gas outlet and containing a membrane selectively permeable to the gas being separated, which membrane comprises a thin, porous inert support within the pores of which is immobilized an active material and the active material is a molten salt capable of undergoing at least one reversible oxidation-reduction reaction with the gas being separated; passing the gas mixture through the feed inlet and into contact with the inlet side of the membrane; removing from the inlet side of the membrane a gas stream rejected by the membrane and removing through the permeate gas outlet the gas passing by reaction through the membrane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A process for separating a gas from at least one other gas in a mixture comprising introducing the mixture into a module having at least a feed inlet and a permeate gas outlet and containing a membrane selectively permeable to the gas being separated, which membrane comprises a thin, porous inert support within the pores of which is immobilized an active material and the active material is a molten salt capable of undergoing at least one reversible oxidation-reduction reaction with the gas being separated; passing the gas mixture through the feed inlet and into contact with the inlet side of the membrane; removing from the inlet side of the membrane a gas stream rejected by the membrane and removing through the permeate gas outlet the gas passing by reaction through the membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the gas passing by reaction through the membrane is removed by a stream of sweep gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the gas passing by reaction through the membrane is removed by a compressor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the module comprises a membrane contained within a configuration of hollow fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the module comprises a membrane contained within a configuration of a spiral winding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the module comprises a membrane contained within a configuration of a series of flat plates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A selectively-permeable membrane for the separation of a gas from a mixture of gases, comprising a thin, porous, inert support in which is immobilized a molten active material, which active material is a molten salt capable of undergoing one or more reversible oxidation-reduction reactions with the gas being separated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A selectively-permeable membrane for the separation of a gas from a mixture of gases, comprising a thin, porous, inert support in which is immobilized a molten active material, which active material is a molten salt capable of undergoing one or more reversible oxidation-reduction reactions with the gas being separated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the support is a ceramic, metallic or organic polymeric material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
10 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the support is metallic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the support is 1-500 micrometers in thickness, has a pore size of 0.003-100 micrometers and is coated with a continuous film of molten active material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the support is less than 0.02 cm in thickness, has a pore size of 2-100 micrometers, is coated with a continuous film of molten active material and has a permeability to nitrogen below 20 Barrers at 760 Torr at the temperature of use.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the active material is molten lithium nitrate and the support is stainless steel mesh.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the active material is molten sodium nitrate and the support is stainless steel mesh.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the active material is a molten mixture of at least two of sodium nitrate, lithium nitrate and potassium nitrate, containing a maximum of 99% by weight of any of the nitrates.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the membrane is within a configuration of a hollow fiber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the membrane is within a configuration of a spiral winding.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The membrane of claim 18, wherein the membrane is within a configuration of a series of flat plates.
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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) | 1989-10-13 | 1990-04-14 | 1990-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-13 | 1994-04-14 | 1994-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-13 | 1998-04-14 | 1998-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |