US5281255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas-separation process
Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-04
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2012-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A process for separating condensable organic components from gas streams. The process makes use of a membrane made from a polymer material that is glassy and that has an unusually high free volume within the polymer material.
Inventors
- 👤 Lora G. Toy
- 👤 Ingo Pinnau
- 👤 Richard W. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:43
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/44; B01D53/00; B01D53/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A process for recovering a condensable organic component from a gas stream, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an incoming gas stream containing a condensable organic component, said condensable organic component being characterized by a boiling point higher than -50° C. at atmospheric pressure; (b) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; said membrane comprising a polymer material characterized by: (i) a glass transition temperature, T g , of at least about 100° C., (ii) a free volume V F of at least about 10%; (c) contacting said feed side with said gas stream; (d) withdrawing from said permeate side a permeate stream enriched in said condensable organic component compared with said gas stream; (e) withdrawing from said feed side a residue stream depleted in said condensable organic component compared with said gas stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A process for recovering a condensable organic component from a gas stream, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an incoming gas stream containing a condensable organic component, said condensable organic component being characterized by a boiling point higher than -50° C. at atmospheric pressure; (b) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; said membrane comprising a polymer material characterized by: (i) a glass transition temperature, T g , of at least about 100° C., (ii) a free volume V F of at least about 10%; (c) contacting said feed side with said gas stream; (d) withdrawing from said permeate side a permeate stream enriched in said condensable organic component compared with said gas stream; (e) withdrawing from said feed side a residue stream depleted in said condensable organic component compared with said gas stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said membrane is a composite membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said membrane is an asymmetric membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said glass transition temperature, T g , is at least about 200° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said free volume V F is at least about 20%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer material is a substituted polyacetylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer material is a silicon-containing polyacetylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer material is a germanium-containing polyacetylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer is polytrimethylsilylpropyne.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer is poly(perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer material has an ideal selectivity for said condensable organic component over a second component of said gas mixture and a mixed-gas selectivity for said condensable organic component over a second component of said gas mixture and said mixed gas selectivity is greater than said ideal selectivity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 11, wherein said mixed gas selectivity is at least five times greater than said ideal selectivity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 11, wherein said mixed gas selectivity is at least ten times greater than said ideal selectivity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said gas mixture comprises an organic vapor in air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said mixture comprises an organic vapor in nitrogen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said gas mixture comprises an organic vapor in hydrogen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said gas mixture comprises an organic vapor in methane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said condensable organic component comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said gas mixture comprises natural gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, further comprising condensing at least a portion of said permeate stream.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1, further characterized by a mixed-gas selectivity for said condensable organic component over a second component in the gas stream that is higher than the selectivity for said condensable organic component over said second component calculated from pure gas measurements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said residue stream is depleted by at least 80% in said condensable organic component compared with said gas stream.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said permeate stream is enriched at least five-fold in said condensable organic component compared with said gas stream.
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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) | 1997-01-24 | 1997-07-26 | 1998-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-07-26 | 2002-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-24 | 2005-07-26 | 2006-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |