US4756835A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Permeable membranes having high flux-density and low fouling-propensity
Assignee: Advanced Polymer Technology Inc
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Filing: 1986-08-29
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Granted: 1988-07-12
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Expires: 2006-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A permeable membrane system comprised of at least two sheets, at least one of the two sheets being a grooved permeable membrane having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, the grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the grooved permeable membrane either having essentially no barrier layer or having a barrier layer on one grooved surface, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves of that one grooved surface of the grooved permeable membrane sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers that one grooved surface, the grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and the feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface. Preferably, both sheets are permeable membranes. The grooves in the sheets are preferably about 5 to about 35 mils wide and deep for reverse osmosis, about 0.5 to about 20 mils wide and deep for gas separation, and about 15 to about 75 mils wide and deep for ultrafiltration. The grooves on one side of one sheet may be aligned with the grooves on one side of an adjacent sheet, whereby the grooves on one side of one sheet form parts of the feed channels and the corresponding grooves on one side of the other sheet form the other parts of the feed channels. Or, the grooved sheets may be alternated with planar sheets so that the grooves on one side of the grooved sheets form the feed channels with the adjacent surface of a planar sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:12
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D63/00; B01D63/08; B01D63/082; B01D63/0822; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D63/10; B01D63/101; B01D65/00; B01D65/08; B01D69/00; B01D69/02; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/24; B01J19/2475; B01D2321/00; B01D2321/20; B01D2321/2008; B01D2321/2016; B01D2325/00; B01D2325/08; B01D2325/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A permeable membrane system comprised of at least two sheets, at least one of the two sheets being a grooved permeable membrane having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the grooved permeable membrane either having essentially no barrier layer or having a barrier layer on one grooved surface, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on the said one grooved surface of the grooved permeable membrane sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A permeable membrane system comprised of at least two sheets, at least one of the two sheets being a grooved permeable membrane having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the grooved permeable membrane either having essentially no barrier layer or having a barrier layer on one grooved surface, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on the said one grooved surface of the grooved permeable membrane sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooves are about 0.5 to about 20 mils wide and deep.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooves are about 5 to about 35 mils wide and deep.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooves are about 15 to about 75 mils wide and deep.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooves are tapered down to the exit side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooved membrane sheets are positioned so that the grooves in one sheet are aligned with the grooves in an adjacent sheet, whereby the grooves in one sheet form parts of the feed channels and the corresponding grooves of the other sheet form the other parts of the feed channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grooved membrane sheets are alternated with planar sheets so that the grooves of the grooved membrane sheets form the feed channels with the adjacent surface of a planar sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable membrane sheet with grooves for feed channels is covered by the planar surface of a membrane with grooves on its other surface for a permeate channel which are parallel to the grooves of the membrane for the feed channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the permeable membrane sheet with grooves for feed channels is covered by the planar surface of a membrane with grooves on its other surface for a permeate channel which are perpendicular to the grooves of the membrane for the feed channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets contains grooves for feed channels on one surface of the membrane and parallel grooves for a permeate channel on the other surface of the membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets contains grooves for feed channels on one surface of the membrane and perpendicular grooves for a permeate channel on the other surface of the membrane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least two permeable membrane sheets and each pair of membrane sheets is separated from other membrane sheets by a permeate carrier cloth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the configuration is of the plate-and-frame type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the configuration is of the spiral-wound type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets is a cast or extruded membrane having an integral barrier layer on the surface having grooves for feed channels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets is a cast or extruded membrane having a coating of a barrier layer on the surface having grooves for feed channels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane is formed from a polysulfone, polyether sulfone, cellulose ester, polystyrene, polyvinyl butyral, or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, diphenylolpropane polycarbonate, poly(methylmethacrylate) or poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A permeable membrane system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the membrane has a coating of crosslinked polyurea or aromatic polyamide as a barrier layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
150 words
A process for the separation of one component from a mixture comprised of at least two components which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause one component to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a solvent-rich permeate stream enriched in one component and a residual stream enriched in the remaining components of the original mixture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
150 words
A process for the separation of one component from a mixture comprised of at least two components which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause one component to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a solvent-rich permeate stream enriched in one component and a residual stream enriched in the remaining components of the original mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the grooves are tapered down to the exit side.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the grooved membrane sheets are positioned so that the grooves in one sheet are aligned with the grooves in an adjacent sheet, whereby the grooves in one sheet form parts of the feed channels and the corresponding grooves of the other sheet form the other parts of the feed channels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the grooved membrane sheets are alternated with planar sheets so that the grooves of the grooved membrane sheets form the feed channels with the adjacent surface of a planar sheet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the permeable membrane sheet with grooves for feed channels is covered by the planar surface of a membrane with grooves on its other surface for a permeate channel which are parallel to the grooves of the membrane for the feed channels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the permeable membrane sheet with grooves for feed channels is covered by the planar surface of a membrane with grooves on its other surface for a permeate channel which are perpendicular to the grooves of the membrane for the feed channels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets contains grooves for feed channels on one surface of the membrane and parallel grooves for a permeate channel on the other surface of the membrane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets contains grooves for feed channels on one surface of the membrane and perpendicular grooves for a permeate channel on the other surface of the membrane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein there are at least two permeable membrane sheets and each pair of membrane sheets is separated from other membrane sheets by a permeate carrier cloth.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the membrane is formed from a polysulfone, polyether sulfone, cellulose ester, polystyrene, polyvinyl butyral, or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, diphenylol propane polycarbonate, poly(methylmethacrylate) or poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the membrane has a coating of crosslinked polyurea or aromatic polyamide as a barrier layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the configuration is of the plate-and-frame type.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the configuration is of the spiral-wound type.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
149 words
A process for reverse osmosis separation of solvent from a solution comprised of a solvent and a solute which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the solution to overcome the osmotic pressure of the solution and thereby cause the solvent to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 5 to about 35 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the fed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a solvent-rich permeate stream and a solute-rich residual stream.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
149 words
A process for reverse osmosis separation of solvent from a solution comprised of a solvent and a solute which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the solution to overcome the osmotic pressure of the solution and thereby cause the solvent to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 5 to about 35 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the fed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a solvent-rich permeate stream and a solute-rich residual stream.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 32 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets is a cast or extruded membrane having an integral barrier layer on the surface having grooves for feed channels.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 32 wherein at least one of the permeable membrane sheets is a cast or extruded membrane having a coating of a barrier layer on the surface having grooves for feed channels.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process for ultrafiltration of liquid from a mixture comprised of a liquid and either a large molecular weight solute or suspended particles or both which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause the liquid to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 15 to about 75 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a liquid-rich permeate stream and a residual stream enriched in the remaining components of the mixture.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process for ultrafiltration of liquid from a mixture comprised of a liquid and either a large molecular weight solute or suspended particles or both which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause the liquid to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 15 to about 75 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a liquid-rich permeate stream and a residual stream enriched in the remaining components of the mixture.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process for the separation of one gas from a mixture comprised of at least two gases which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause a measurable flux of at least one gas through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 20 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a permeate stream enriched in one gas and a residual stream enriched in the remaining gases of the original mixture.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process for the separation of one gas from a mixture comprised of at least two gases which comprises applying sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause a measurable flux of at least one gas through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 20 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a permeate stream enriched in one gas and a residual stream enriched in the remaining gases of the original mixture.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for liquid-fluid separation of the fluid from a mixture of (a) a liquid and (b) a fluid which is either a liquid or a gas, which process comprises applying sufficient pressure to the solution to overcome the osmotic pressure of the solution and thereby cause the fluid to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a permeate stream rich in fluid (b) and a residual stream enriched in liquid (a).
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for liquid-fluid separation of the fluid from a mixture of (a) a liquid and (b) a fluid which is either a liquid or a gas, which process comprises applying sufficient pressure to the solution to overcome the osmotic pressure of the solution and thereby cause the fluid to pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a permeate stream rich in fluid (b) and a residual stream enriched in liquid (a).
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
172 words
A continuous process for separating product from fluid reactants and catalyst in a reactor system wherein the catalyst is attached or immobilized onto a permeable membrane or an adjacent surface or is recirculated with reactants across the surface of the permeable membrane and the separation is effected by the ability of the product to selectively pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the reactants to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a product-rich permeate stream and a reactant-rich residual stream, which is recirculated through the reactor with additional reactants.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
172 words
A continuous process for separating product from fluid reactants and catalyst in a reactor system wherein the catalyst is attached or immobilized onto a permeable membrane or an adjacent surface or is recirculated with reactants across the surface of the permeable membrane and the separation is effected by the ability of the product to selectively pass through a permeable membrane system comprised of at least two permeable membrane sheets, at least one of the two sheets having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on one grooved surface of one sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the reactants to the membrane surface, thereby resulting in a product-rich permeate stream and a reactant-rich residual stream, which is recirculated through the reactor with additional reactants.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
105 words
A permeable membrane system comprised of at least two sheets, at least one of the two sheets being a permeable membrane having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, one grooved surface having a barrier layer, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on the surface of the permeable membrane sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
105 words
A permeable membrane system comprised of at least two sheets, at least one of the two sheets being a permeable membrane having regularly spaced grooves on at least one surface, said grooves having a predetermined spacing factor, one grooved surface having a barrier layer, the sheets being positioned in a configuration with the grooves on the surface of the permeable membrane sheet forming feed channels with a surface of another sheet which covers the said one grooved surface, said grooves being about 0.5 to about 100 mils wide and deep and said feed channels being used to deliver the feed stream to the membrane surface.
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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) | 1991-07-12 | 1992-01-11 | 1992-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-12 | 1996-01-11 | 1996-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-12 | 2000-01-11 | 2000-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |