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US5028336A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Separation of water-soluble organic electrolytes

Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1989-03-03
•
Granted: 1991-07-02
•
Expires: 2009-03-03
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Abstract

Abstract Water-soluble organic electrolytes, such as anions of lower carboxylic acids in aqueous solution at low pH, are removed by raising the pH and subjecting the resultant charge liquid to nanofiltration.

Inventors

  • 👤 Craig R. Bartels
  • 👤 John Reale, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 20:06
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/02; B01D61/027; B01D61/04; B01D69/00; B01D69/12; B01D69/125; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/56; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/44; C02F1/442; B01D2311/00; B01D2311/04; B01D2311/18; C02F1/66; C02F1/42; C02F2001/425; C02F2101/00; C02F2101/30; C02F2101/32

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH and containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes which comprises raising the pH of said aqueous charge thereby forming an alkalized aqueous charge liquid containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; nanofiltering said alkalized aqueous charge containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes thereby forming (i) aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes and (ii) aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; recovering said aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; and recovering said aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 104 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH and containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes which comprises raising the pH of said aqueous charge thereby forming an alkalized aqueous charge liquid containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; nanofiltering said alkalized aqueous charge containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes thereby forming (i) aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes and (ii) aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; recovering said aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; and recovering said aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aqueous charge liquid has a low charge pH of below about 7.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aqueous charge liquid has a low charge pH of about 5-7.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said low charge pH is raised to above about 7.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 24 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim wherein said dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes include anions of organic monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH contains immiscible hydrocarbons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pH of said aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH is raised by addition thereto of a Bronsted base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pH of said aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH is raised by addition thereto of a hydroxide, carbonate, or bicarbonate of an alkali metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pH of said aqueous charge liquid having a low charged pH is raised by contacting said low pH charge with a cation exchange resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cation exchange resin is a sulfonated polystyrene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nanofiltration is carried out across a nanofiltration membrane of thickness of 0.2-1 microns, said membrane comprising a pendant ionic group which provides an ionic charge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nanofiltration is carried out across a nanofiltration membrane which is a condensation product of a polyfunctional amine and a polycarboxylic acid which acid contains a pendant ionic group.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 117 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid containing produced water of low charge pH of about 4-7 from a petroleum producing operation, said charge liquid containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes which comprises raising the pH of said aqueous charge liquid thereby forming an alkalized aqueous charge liquid containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; nanofiltering said alkalized aqueous charge containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes thereby forming (i) aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes and (ii) aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; recovering said aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; and recovering said aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 117 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid containing produced water of low charge pH of about 4-7 from a petroleum producing operation, said charge liquid containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes which comprises raising the pH of said aqueous charge liquid thereby forming an alkalized aqueous charge liquid containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; nanofiltering said alkalized aqueous charge containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes thereby forming (i) aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes and (ii) aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; recovering said aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; and recovering said aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 90 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid containing produced water as claimed in claim 13 including the steps of (i) separating said aqueous charge liquid, prior to nanofiltration, in a separation operation thereby forming a separated lighter layer of immiscible hydrocarbon liquid and a heavier layer of aqueous liquid containing a reduced amount of immiscible hydrocarbon liquid; (ii) recycling said heavier layer of aqueous liquid containing a reduced amount of immiscible hydrocarbon liquid to said pH raising step, and (iii) recovering said separated lighter layer of immiscible hydrocarbon liquid.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 116 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH of 3-7 and containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes which comprises raising the pH of said aqueous charge liquid to 7-11 thereby forming an alkalized aqueous charge liquid of pH 7-11 containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; nanofiltering said alkalized aqueous charge liquid of pH 7-11 containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes thereby forming (i) aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes and (ii) aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; recovering said aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; and recovering said aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 116 words
The method of treating an aqueous charge liquid having a low charge pH of 3-7 and containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes which comprises raising the pH of said aqueous charge liquid to 7-11 thereby forming an alkalized aqueous charge liquid of pH 7-11 containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; nanofiltering said alkalized aqueous charge liquid of pH 7-11 containing dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes thereby forming (i) aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes and (ii) aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; recovering said aqueous retentate containing an increased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes; and recovering said aqueous permeate containing a decreased concentration of dissolved water-soluble organic electrolytes.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4752363A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-07-01 1994-12-31 1995-07-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-07-01 2002-12-31 2003-07-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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