US4824443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas separation by composite solvent-swollen membranes
Assignee: Wellcome Foundation Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-04-07
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Granted: 1989-04-25
•
Expires: 2008-04-07
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a composite immobulized liquid membrane of a solvent-swollen polymer and a microporous organic or inorganic support, the solvent being at least one highly polar solvent containing at least one nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous or sulfur atom, and having a boiling point of at least 100° C. and a specified solubility parameter. The solvent or solvent mixture is homogeneously distributed through the solvent-swollen polymer from 20% to 95% by weight. The membrane is suitable for acid gas scrubbing and oxygen/nitrogen separation.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen L. Matson
- 👤 Eric K. L. Lee
- 👤 Dwayne T. Friesen
- 👤 Donald J. Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:00
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D67/00; B01D67/0002; B01D67/0006; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D53/228; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; B01D69/00; B01D69/10; B01D69/108; B01D69/12; B01D69/125; B01D2323/00; B01D2323/15; B01D2323/16; B01D2323/30; B01D2325/00; B01D2325/02; B01D2325/022; B01D2325/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A composite immobilized liquid membrane characterized in that it comprises: (a) a microporous support; and (b) a solvent-swollen polymer compatible with and swellable by at least one solvent selected from a class of solvents comprising those solvents with a highly polar group in the molecular structure of the solvent, said highly polar group containing at least one atom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur, said solvents having a boiling point of at least 100° C. and a solubility parameter of from about 7.5 to about 13.5 (cal/cm 3 -atm) 1/2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A composite immobilized liquid membrane characterized in that it comprises: (a) a microporous support; and (b) a solvent-swollen polymer compatible with and swellable by at least one solvent selected from a class of solvents comprising those solvents with a highly polar group in the molecular structure of the solvent, said highly polar group containing at least one atom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur, said solvents having a boiling point of at least 100° C. and a solubility parameter of from about 7.5 to about 13.5 (cal/cm 3 -atm) 1/2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein the solvent is selected from alcohols, amines, amides, carbamates, carbonates, esters, ethers, lactams, lactones, morpholines, nitriles, phosphates, phosphines, phosphites, pyridines, sulfones, sulfoxides, thiols, thioamides, thioesters, thioethers, thioureas, ureas, urethanes and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein the solvent is a solvent of the formula NR 3 or ##STR2## wherein R is alkyl and substituted alkyl containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl and substituted aryl, R' is alkyl and substituted alkyl containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, the substituents in both R and R' groups being selected from the group consisting essentially of hydroxy, amino, halides and ethers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer has 20% to 95% by weight of said solvent homogeneously distributed therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is contaned with in the pores of said microporous support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is in the form of a thin film on the surface of said microporous support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is selected from polyvinylpyrrolidones, polysulfonamides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyesters, polyamides, polysulfones, cellulose acetates, regenerated celluloses, ethylene-vinylacetate copolymers, ethylene propylene-butadiene terpolymers, polyvinylhalides, nitrile rubbers, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from mixtures of (a) alkyl- and aryl-substituted phosphates and (b) alkyl- and aryl-substituted pyrrolidones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The membrane of claim 8 wherein said alkyl- and aryl-substituted phosphate is selected from trialkyl- and triaryl-substituted phosphates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane of claim 9 wherein said solvent comprises a mixture of tri-2-ethylhexylphosphate and N-cyclohexylpyrrolidone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone, N-cocoalkyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-tallowalkyl-2-pyrrolidone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said microporous support is a porous inorganic material selected from alumina, silica, metal, metal oxides, ceramics and zeolites.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is selected from polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyurethane and said solvent is selected from N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone diethylphthalate, dipentylphthalate, 4-(4'-methyl-piperidino)pyridine, anethole, N-dodecylpyrrolidone, mixtures of dioctylphthalate and N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, and mixtures of tri-2-ethylhexylphosphate and N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and said solvent is N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The membrane of claim 1 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is crosslinked by a crosslinking agent selected from peroxides, diazos, vinyls, acid halides, and isocyanates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The membrane of claim 15 wherein crosslinking of said crosslinked solvent-swollen polymer is accomplished by the use of a crosslinking agent selected from ethylenedimethacrylate, tetraethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, trimethylolmethacrylate, ethoxylated Bisphenol-A diacrylate, divinylbenzene, N,N-diallyltartardiamide, triallyl-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate, N-N'-methylene bisacrylamide, methyl-diisocyanate, toluyl diisocyanate and trimesoylchloride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The membrane of claim 15 wherein said solvent-swollen polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone and crosslinking is accomplished simultaneously with polymerization of a monomeric precursor of polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for the separation of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide gases from hydrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon gases comprising splitting a feed stream comprising all of said gases with the membrane of any of claims 1, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, or 15 or 16 into a permeate stream on one side of said membrane rich in hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide and a residue stream on the other stream side of said membrane rich in the remainder of said gases.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the partial pressures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide on the permeate stream side of said membrane are less than the partial pressures of such gases on the feed stream side of said membrane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, additionally comprising a sweep gas stream on the permeate side of said membrane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said sweep gas comprises air.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said sweep gas stream comprises an inert gas.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said inert gas comprises nitrogen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 18, additionally comprising saturating either or both of said feed stream and said sweep stream with the same solvent with which said membrane has been swollen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said saturating solvent is recovered from either or both of said permeate stream and said residue stream and is recycled to either or both of said feed stream and said sweep stream.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said recovery is by condensation of solvent vapor in said permeate and residue streams.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said condensation is accomplished by means of a heat exchanger.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method for the separation of hydrogen sulfide gas from carbon dioxide gas comprising splitting a feed stream comprising both of said gases with the membrane of claim 1, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14 or 15 into a hydrogen sulfide-rich permeate stream and a carbon dioxide-rich residue stream.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the partial pressures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide on the permeate stream side of said membrane are less than the partial pressures of such gases on the feed stream side of said membrane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28, additionally comprising a sweep gas stream on the permeate side of said membrane.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said sweep gas comprises air.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said sweep gas comprises an inert gas.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said inert gas comprises nitrogen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 30, additionally comprising saturating either or both of said feed stream and said sweep stream with the same solvent with which said membrane has been swollen.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said saturating solvent is recovered from either or both of said permeate stream and said residue stream and is recycled to either or both of said feed stream and said sweep stream.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said recovery is by condensation of solvent vapor in said permeate and residue streams.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said condensation is accomplished by means of a heat exchanger.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for the separation of oxygen gas from nitrogen gas comprising splitting a feed stream comprising both of said gases with the membrane of claim 1, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, or 15 into an oxygen-rich permeate stream and a nitrogen-rich residue stream.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the partial pressure of oxygen on the permeate side of said membrane is less than the partial pressure of oxygen on the feed side of said membrane.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38, additionally comprising saturating said feed stream with the same solvent with which said membrane has been swollen.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 40 wherein said saturating solvent is recovered from either or both of said permeate stream and said residue stream and is recycled to said feed stream.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said recovery is by condensation of solvent vapor in said permeate and residue streams.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said condensation is accomplished by means of a heat exchanger.
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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) | 1992-04-24 | 1992-10-24 | 1993-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-24 | 1996-10-24 | 1997-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-24 | 2000-10-24 | 2001-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |