Patents Assigned to Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
  • Ultrafiltration membrane and process
    Patent number: 7784621
    Abstract: An inorganic membrane suitable for ultrafiltration or nanofiltration, and methods for making and using the membrane. The membrane has a organic polymer deposited on the feed surface, but is not able to perform separations by solution-diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Membrane Technology & Research, Inc
    Inventor: Ingo Pinnau
  • Four-port gas separation membrane module assembly
    Patent number: 7758670
    Abstract: A gas-separation membrane assembly, and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly incorporates multiple gas-separation membranes in an array within a single vessel or housing, and is equipped with two permeate ports, enabling permeate gas to be withdrawn from both ends of the membrane module permeate pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Donald A. Fulton, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Jurgen Kaschemekat
  • Pervaporation process and assembly
    Patent number: 7758754
    Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Yu Huang, Tiem Aldajani, Donald A. Fulton
  • Ethanol recovery process
    Patent number: 7732173
    Abstract: A process for producing and recovering light alcohols, particularly ethanol, alcohol mixtures containing ethanol, and ABE mixtures (alcohol mixtures containing acetone, butanol and ethanol), using a combination of steps including fermentation, first membrane separation, dephlegmation and dehydration by second membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Richard W. Baker, Ivy Huang, Jennifer Ly
  • Membrane-augmented distillation with compression to separate solvents from water
    Publication number: 20100051441
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Franklin R. Alvarez, Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker
  • Efficient gas-separation process to upgrade dilute methane stream for use as fuel
    Publication number: 20090277328
    Abstract: A membrane-based gas separation process for treating gas streams that contain methane in low concentrations. The invention involves flowing the stream to be treated across the feed side of a membrane and flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side. Carbon dioxide permeates the membrane preferentially and is picked up in the sweep air stream on the permeate side; oxygen permeates in the other direction and is picked up in the methane-containing stream. The resulting residue stream is enriched in methane as well as oxygen and has an EMC value enabling it to be either flared or combusted by mixing with ordinary air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Haiqing Lin, Scott Thompson, Ramin Daniels
  • Gas separation processes using membrance with permeate sweep to recover reaction feedstocks
    Publication number: 20090277326
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating off-gas streams from reaction processes, and reaction processes including such gas separation. The invention involves flowing the off-gas across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, and passing the permeate/sweep gas mixture to the reaction. The process recovers unreacted feedstock that would otherwise be lost in the waste gases in an energy efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel
  • Fuel deoxygenation system with multi-layer oxygen permeable membrane
    Patent number: 7615104
    Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with an oxygen permeable membrane formed from a multiple of layers. The layers include a sealant layer, an oxygen permeability layer and a porous backing layer. The layered composite oxygen permeable membrane maximizes the oxygen transfer rate and minimizes the fuel leakage rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: United Technologies Corporation, Membrane Technology & Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Haralambos Cordatos, Louis J. Spadaccini, Ingo Pinnau
  • Three-stage membrane gas separation process
    Patent number: 7604681
    Abstract: A process for removing carbon dioxide or nitrogen from gas, especially natural gas. The process uses three membrane separation stages without compression between the second and third stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Lummus Technology, Inc., Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Malsam, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala
  • Natural gas treatment process for stimulated well
    Patent number: 7537641
    Abstract: A process and equipment for treating natural gas produced by a well that has recently been stimulated, and that contains an undesirably high concentration of the fracturing gas used to stimulate the well. The process involves treating the gas by membrane separation, and provides for control of treatment parameters to compensate for the changing concentration of fracturing gas in the produced gas, as well as changes in gas flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Ankur Jariwala
  • Gas separation membrane module assembly
    Patent number: 7510594
    Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membranes, arranged within a housing. The housing contains a tube sheet that divides the space within the housing into two gas-tight spaces. A permeate collection system within the housing gathers permeate gas from the tubes for discharge from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P Wynn, Donald A. Fulton
  • Dehydration processes using membranes with hydrophobic coating
    Publication number: 20090057224
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic compounds, especially polar compounds such as alcohols. The processes include a membrane-based dehydration step, using a membrane that has a dioxole-based polymer selective layer or the like and a hydrophilic selective layer, and can operate even when the stream to be treated has a high water content, such as 10 wt % or more. The processes are particularly useful for dehydrating ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer Ly
  • Liquid-phase separation of low molecular weight organic compounds
    Patent number: 7479227
    Abstract: A process for separating a component from a low molecular weight organic mixture by pervaporation. The process uses fluorinated membranes and is particularly useful for treating mixtures containing light organic components, such as methane, propylene or n-butane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels, Ankur D. Jariwala
  • Membrane-augmented distillation with pressure change to separate solvents from water
    Publication number: 20090004713
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Yu Huang, Masakatsu Urairi, Richard W. Baker
  • Liquid-phase and vapor-phase dehydration of organic/water solutions
    Publication number: 20080216649
    Abstract: Processes for dehydrating an organic/water solution by pervaporation or vapor separation using fluorinated membranes. The processes are particularly useful for treating mixtures containing light organic components, such as ethanol, isopropanol or acetic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Membrane Technology And Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Jennifer Ly, Tiem Aldajani, Richard W. Baker
  • Gas separation membrane module assembly
    Patent number: 7404843
    Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membranes, arranged within a housing. The housing contains tube sheets that divide the space within the housing into three separate, gas-tight spaces, with the tubes mounted in the central space. Within this space, each tube has an aperture or hole in its wall that enables gas that has been retained on the feed side of the membranes to flow out of the tubes and into the space. The assembly can be used in various ways to carry out gas separation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Membrane Technology & Research Inc
    Inventors: Jürgen Kaschemekat, Donald Fulton, Nicholas Wynn
  • Pervaporation process and assembly
    Publication number: 20080164207
    Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Yu Huang, Tiem Aldajani, Donald A. Fulton
  • Four-port gas separation membrane module assembly
    Publication number: 20080011157
    Abstract: A gas-separation membrane assembly, and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly incorporates multiple gas-separation membranes in an array within a single vessel or housing, and is equipped with two permeate ports, enabling permeate gas to be withdrawn from both ends of the membrane module permeate pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Donald A. Fulton, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Jurgen Kaschemekat
  • Three-stage membrane gas separation process
    Publication number: 20070272079
    Abstract: A process for removing carbon dioxide or nitrogen from gas, especially natural gas. The process uses three membrane separation stages without compression between the second and third stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicants: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., ABB Lummus Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Malsam, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala
  • Gas separation membranes and processes for controlled environmental management
    Publication number: 20070151447
    Abstract: A gas-separation membrane, membrane module and membrane process for controlling humidity in an environment. The membrane has a porous support zone impregnated by a selective zone, a configuration that reduces concentration polarization within the membrane itself when the membrane is housed in the module and used in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Charles Merkel