Abstract: Fluid separation membranes and modules containing the separation membranes are disclosed wherein the membranes have preselected portions having lower selectivity to the feed fluid mixture; thus permitting the fluid feed mixtures to permeate the membranes in controlled amounts for purposes of sweeping selected permeate fluid away from the non-feed membrane surface.

Abstract: Fluid separation modules are disclosed having tube sheets positioned in the end portions of the cylindrical shell forming the exterior of the separation module wherein the end portions of the cylindrical shell have been modified in order to provide improved adhesion and fluid seal between the tube sheets and the shell walls.

Abstract: A fluid separation module to be mounted in a cylindrical shell and the method of mounting the same, the module including a bundle of hollow fiber membranes and a polymeric tube sheet, the tube sheet being positioned at one end of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes with the hollow fiber membranes extending through the tube sheet. A resilient sheet having the form of the slit tube surrounds the bundle of hollow fibers and is held in this configuration by a plurality of rings encircling the slit tube at spaced intervals thereon, the slit tube being secured to the tube sheet. The rings are moveably mounted on the slit tube in such a manner that, as the module is inserted in the shell, the rings can be manually slid to one end of the slit tube to allow the slit tube to expand into contact with the inner surface of the tubular shell and thereby allow the fiber bundle to open for improved flow of the fluid mixture through the bundle.

Abstract: A fluid separation module made up of a cylindrical shell having an outlet end and an enlarged inlet end. A bundle of hollow fiber membranes positioned in the shell extend through a cast tube sheet positioned in the enlarged inlet end of the shell. A flexible, imperforate sleeve is positioned in the shell surrounding the bundle of hollow fiber membranes, with one end of the sleeve being secured to the fiber bundle adjacent to the tube sheet and the other end of the sleeve being secured to the inner surface of the cylindrical shell at the enlarged end at the end thereof to leave a retroflexed, intermediate portion of the sleeve extending down the shell between the shell and the bundle of hollow fiber membranes. A fluid entering the inlet end of the shell inflates the flexible sleeve to occupy all free space between the fiber bundle and the shell and thereby force all of the fluid to pass through the bundle of hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: Asymmetric gas separation membranes of materials having selective permeation of at least one gas of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture, exhibit significantly improved permeation selectivities for the at least one gas when the asymmetric membrane is contacted on one or both surfaces with an effective amount of a Bronsted-Lowry base. The improved asymmetric gas separation membranes, process for producing the improved membrane, and processes utilizing such membranes for selectively separating at least one gas from a gaseous mixture by permeation are disclosed.

Abstract: A coated membrane for gas separations wherein the membrane is made up of an amine cross-linked poly(phenylene oxide) substrate membrane having about 1 to about 7 weight percent nitrogen and a coating on the substrate membrane. The coating is a polymer containing groups capable of reacting with amine groups at the surface of the substrate membrane to ionically or covalently bond the coating to the substrate.

Abstract: A gas separation membrane made from a benzyl-substituted polymer of 2,6-dimethyl-1,3-phenylene oxide having the structure ##STR1## wherein the benzyl substituent, X, is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen, an alkyl, phenyl or a substituted phenyl or substituted alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms where the substituent is phenyl, a nitro group, an alkoxy a phenoxy group, sulfide, sulfoxide, a carboxylic acid group or an alcohol, m is 0-0.99, n is 0-0.99 and o is 0.01-99, with m, n and o being decimal portions of a polymeric unit and the sum of m, n and o being 1, p is 1 and q is 0 or 1. Expressed in percentages of a polymeric unit, m is 0-99 percent, n is 0-99 percent and o is 1 to 99 percent. Preferably, m and n are at least 0.01.

Abstract: Air drying apparatus wherein input air to be dried is passed through an air tube which contains a smaller refrigerant tube, with precooled air from the air tube being forced by baffles to flow along a tortuous path over the exterior of the air tube. The baffles being truncated discs positioned in the shell so that alternating baffles have the truncations facing in opposite directions.

Abstract: This invention relates to membrane gas separation of carbon dioxide and methane containing gas mixtures. More particularly the invention relates to apparatus and processes for recovering a methane-enriched non-permeate gas of natural gas pipe line quality from mixtures of carbon dioxide and methane where membrane permeate gases contain substantially all of the carbon dioxide of the feed gas mixture. An aspect of the process of this invention is that a significant portion of the carbon dioxide containing permeate gas can be utilized as combustion engine fuel to drive feed gas compressors utilized in the process.

Abstract: Covalently-bonded, cross-linked polymeric gas separation membranes of a polyarylene oxide precursor and a chemical cross-linking agent. Apparatus and processes utilizing such membranes for selectively separating at least one gas from a gaseous mixture by permeation.Membranes include substituted phenylene oxide polymers cross-linked with ammonia.

Abstract: Fire retardant compositions comprising (a) ammonium sulfate; (b) a carboxyalkyl or hydroxyalkyl ether of a polygalactomannan; and optionally (c) other fire retardant chemicals from the groups consisting of monoammonium orthophosphate, diammonium orthophosphate; monoammonium pyrophosphate; diammonium pyrophosphate; triammonium pyrophosphate; tetraammonium pyrophosphate; ammonium, substituted ammonium, amide and melamine polyphosphates; ammonium-alkali metal mixed salts of ortho-, pyro- and polyphosphates; ammonium-alkaline earth metal mixed salts of ortho-, pyro- and polyphosphates; and mixtures thereof. There are disclosed both aqueous forms and concentrated non-aqueous forms of the compositions which are particularly useful for preventing, extinguishing and suppressing forest fires.

Abstract: Improved aqueous intumescent fire retardant coating compositions comprising:(A) a carbonific;(B) a film-forming binder; and(C) a substantially water-insoluble phosphorus-containing material having at least one P-O-P linkage;wherein (A), (B) and (C) constitute from about 20 to about 90 percent by weight of the total composition, the improvement wherein said composition further comprises a viscosity stabilizing amount of an organic chelating agent, which agent is different from components (A), (B) or (C).