US5051114A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Perfluorodioxole membranes
Assignee: DuPont Canada Inc
•
Filing: 1990-06-13
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Granted: 1991-09-24
•
Expires: 2010-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A selectively permeable membrane for the separation or enrichment of gaseous mixtures may be formed from amorphous polymers of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole, especially copolymers with a complementary amount of at least one of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene. Preferably, the polymer is a dipolymer containing 65-99 mole % of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and having a glass transition temperature of at least 140 DEG C. The membranes may be used for the separation or enrichment of a wide variety of gaseous mixtures, including oxygen enrichment of air, and separation or enrichment of gaseous organic compounds in admixture with air, including separation or enrichment of the amount of fluorocarbon gases in air. The membranes exhibit a very high flux rate, compared with other glassy organic polymer membranes.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart M. Nemser
- 👤 Ian C. Roman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:41
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/30; B01D71/32; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D53/228; B01D71/44; B01D71/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for the enrichment of the amount of a gaseous organic compound in a gaseous admixture of said organic compound and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen, said method comprising: (a) providing in a membrane separation cell a selectively permeable membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane being virtually defect-free with an oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of at least 1.4 and formed from an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole, and feeding said admixture to the feed side of said membrane, said membrane being at a temperature of less than the glass transition temperature of the polymer; and (b) removing from the feed side of the membrane, a gaseous admixture of said organic compound that is enriched in the amount of organic compound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for the enrichment of the amount of a gaseous organic compound in a gaseous admixture of said organic compound and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen, said method comprising: (a) providing in a membrane separation cell a selectively permeable membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane being virtually defect-free with an oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of at least 1.4 and formed from an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole, and feeding said admixture to the feed side of said membrane, said membrane being at a temperature of less than the glass transition temperature of the polymer; and (b) removing from the feed side of the membrane, a gaseous admixture of said organic compound that is enriched in the amount of organic compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which a pressure differential is applied across the membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the temperature of the membrane is at least 30° C. lower than the glass transition temperature of the polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which the membrane has a selective permeation of nitrogen over the organic compound of at least 10:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the organic compound is a gaseous fluorocarbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the organic compound is a gaseous hydrocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the polymer is a copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 7 in which the polymer is a copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and a complementary amount of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the polymer is a homopolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which the polymer is a dipolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and a complementary amount of tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 in which the polymer is a dipolymer containing 65-99 mole % of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and having a glass transition temperature of at least 140° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 in which the membrane has a permeability to oxygen of at least 100 Barrers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 in which the permeability to oxygen is at least 200 Barrers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 in which the permeability to oxygen is at least 500 Barrers.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for the enrichment of the amount of a gas in a gaseous admixture with another gas, said method comprising: (a) providing in a membrane separation cell a selectively permeable membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane being virtually defect-free with an oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of at least 1.4 and formed from an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole, and feeding said admixture to the feed side of said membrane, said membrane being at a temperature of less than the glass transition temperature of the polymer; and (b) removing from the permeate side of the membrane, a gaseous admixture that is enriched in the amount of one gas.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for the enrichment of the amount of a gas in a gaseous admixture with another gas, said method comprising: (a) providing in a membrane separation cell a selectively permeable membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane being virtually defect-free with an oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of at least 1.4 and formed from an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole, and feeding said admixture to the feed side of said membrane, said membrane being at a temperature of less than the glass transition temperature of the polymer; and (b) removing from the permeate side of the membrane, a gaseous admixture that is enriched in the amount of one gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 in which a pressure differential is applied across the membrane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 in which the temperature of the membrane is at least 30° C. lower than the glass transition temperature of the dipolymer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 in which the polymer is a copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18 in which the polymer is a copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and a complementary amount of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 in which the polymer is a dipolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and a complementary amount of tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 in which the polymer is a dipolymer containing 65-99 mole % of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and having a glass transition temperature of at least 140° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 in which the polymer is a homopolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 in which the gases are oxygen and nitrogen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 in which the gaseous admixture is air.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 in which the gases are at least two gases selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, methane, ammonia, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 in which the gases additionally contain water.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 in which the membrane has a permeability to oxygen of at least 100 Barrers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 in which the permeability to oxygen is at least 200 Barrers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 in which the permeability to oxygen is at least 500 Barrers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A selectively permeable membrane for the separation of gaseous mixtures comprising a film or coating of an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole on a porous support, said membrane exhibiting an oxygen/nitrogen selectively of at least 1.4.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
A selectively permeable membrane for the separation of gaseous mixtures comprising a film or coating of an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole on a porous support, said membrane exhibiting an oxygen/nitrogen selectively of at least 1.4.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane of claim 30 having a permeability to oxygen of at least 100 Barrers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The membrane of claim 31 in which the permeability to oxygen is at least 200 Barrers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The membrane of claim 31 in which the permeability to oxygen is at least 500 Barrers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane of claim 31 in which the polymer is a copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl -1,3-dioxole.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The membrane of claim 34 in which the polymer is a copolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl -1,3-dioxole and a complementary amount of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The membrane of claim 35 in which the polymer is a dipolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl -1,3-dioxole and a complementary amount of tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The membrane of claim 36 in which the polymer is a dipolymer containing 65-99 mole % of perfluoro-2,2- dimethyl-1,3-dioxole and having a glass transition temperature of at least 140° C.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The membrane of claim 30 in which the membrane is monolithic membrane.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The membrane of claim 30 in which the membrane is in the form of a hollow fibre.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The membrane of claim 30 in which the film or coating and the porous support are different polymers.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The membrane of claim 30 in which the polymer is a homopolymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl -1,3-dioxole.
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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) | 1994-09-23 | 1995-03-25 | 1995-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-23 | 1999-03-25 | 1999-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-23 | 2003-03-25 | 2003-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |