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USRE30125E Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid membrane process for the separation of aqueous mixtures

Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1978-10-13
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Granted: 1979-10-23
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Expires: 1998-10-13
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a process for the removal of dissolved species from aqueous solutions, which comprises contacting said aqueous solution with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an exterior phase which is characterized as being immiscible with said aqueous solution and yet permeable to said dissolved species, and an interior phase which contains a reactant capable of converting said dissolved species to a non-permeable form. The dissolved species permeate the exterior phase, into the interior phase where they are converted into nonpermeable forms and thus retained in the interior phase of said emulsion. The aqueous solution, depleted in said dissolved species, is separated from said emulsion and the emulsion cycled for reuse. In one preferred embodiment said dissolved species are ions, and an ion exchange compound is incorporated in the exterior phase of the emulsion, to promote the permeation of said ions through the exterior phase.

Inventors

  • 👤 Norman N. Li
  • 👤 Robert P. Cahn
  • 👤 Adam L. Shrier

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 14:56
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/66; B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; B01D61/40; C02F1/26; C10; C10G; C10G21/00; C10G31/00; C10G31/11

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
A process for removal of a dissolved species from an aqueous solution which comprises, contacting said aqueous solution with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an interior phase, surrounded by a surfactant containing exterior phase, said exterior phase being immiscible with said aqueous solution and said exterior phase being permeable to said dissolved species, and said interior phase comprising a reactant capable of converting said species to a nonpermeable species, whereby said species permeates the exterior phase and is converted to a nonpermeable species in the interior phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 87 words
A process for removal of a dissolved species from an aqueous solution which comprises, contacting said aqueous solution with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an interior phase, surrounded by a surfactant containing exterior phase, said exterior phase being immiscible with said aqueous solution and said exterior phase being permeable to said dissolved species, and said interior phase comprising a reactant capable of converting said species to a nonpermeable species, whereby said species permeates the exterior phase and is converted to a nonpermeable species in the interior phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim I, wherein said exterior phase comprises from about 0.01 to 10 weight percent of an oil soluble surfactant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said interior phase is aqueous.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is converted to a nonpermeable form by complexing with a reactant in the interior phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is an ion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said exterior phase comprises an ion exchange compound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said ion is a cation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said exterior phase comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acids, organophosphoric acids and carboxylic acids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said ion is an anion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said exterior phase comprises an amine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is converted to a nonpermeable form in the interior phase by neutralization.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said dissolved species is a weak acid and is neutralized in the interior phase by a strong base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 32 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said weak acid is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , SO 2 , acetic acid, H 2 S, phenol, HCN and citric acid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said dissolved species is a weak base and is neutralized in the interior phase by a strong acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said dissolved species is selected from the group consisting of NH 3 and nitrogen containing organic compounds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said dissolved species is converted to a nonpermeable form by precipitating in the interior phase.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said dissolved species is selected from the group consisting of metal ions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Cd and Hg.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said surfactant is Span 80.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 37 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said ion exchange compound is selected from the group consisting of sulfonated styrene copolymers, petroleum sulfonic acids, napthenic acids, sulfonated phenol formaldehyde copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers, and styrene acrylic acid copolymers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 150 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said ion exchange compound is selected from compounds having the general formula: ##STR6## wherein R and R 1 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 to C 20 alkyl, C 6 to C 20 aryl and C 7 to C 20 alkaryl radicals and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of C 6 to C 30 alkyl, C 6 to C 20 aryl and C 7 to C 20 alkaryl radicals; and ##STR7## wherein R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and y are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 to C 20 alkyl, C 6 to C 20 aryl, C 7 and C 20 alkaryl radicals and substituted derivatives thereof, and x is an integer of from 1 to 100.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 58 words
The process of claim 21 wherein R 3 and R 4 together form an alkyl succinic radical having the general formula ##STR8## wherein m is an integer varying from 10 to 60, x varies from 3 to 10, and y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and oxygen containing hydrocarbyl radicals having up to 10 carbons.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-10-22 1983-04-23 1983-10-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-10-22 1987-04-23 1987-10-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-10-22 1991-04-23 1991-10-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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