Patents Assigned to Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
  • Natural gas treatment process for stimulated well
    Publication number: 20070125537
    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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
    Inventors: Kaaeid Lokhandwala, Ankur Jariwala
  • Gas separation membrane module assembly
    Publication number: 20070107596
    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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Wynn, Donald Fulton
  • Natural gas dehydration apparatus
    Patent number: 7132008
    Abstract: A process and corresponding apparatus for dehydrating gas, especially natural gas. The process includes an absorption step and a membrane pervaporation step to regenerate the liquid sorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Membrane Technology & Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G Wijmans, Alvin Ng, Anurag P Mairal
  • Treatment of shipboard-generated oily wastewaters
    Patent number: 7018539
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating oily wastewater, such as bilge water or ballast water, generated on a ship. The process uses a combination of a centrifugal separation step and a membrane separation step, such as an ultrafiltration step. The membrane separation step uses a dense, non-porous filtration membrane. The process is able to remove both emulsified oil and dissolved oil from the wastewater to low levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Johannes G. Wijmans, Ingo Pinnau, Jennifer H. Ly
  • Process for regenerating facilitated-transport membranes
    Publication number: 20060016750
    Abstract: A process for regenerating a facilitated-transport membrane, such as a gas separation membrane, that contains an ionic complexing agent, and that has lost performance as a result of reduction of at least some of the ions to a less charged or uncharged form. The process involves exposing the membrane to an oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide. The invention also includes membranes that have been regenerated in this way, and their use, particularly for separating light olefins from light paraffins by membrane gas separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Merkel, Roland Blanc
  • Liquid-phase separation of low molecular weight organic compounds
    Publication number: 20060000777
    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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Da Costa, Ramin Daniels, Ankur Jariwala
  • Ultrafiltration membrane and process
    Publication number: 20050284814
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag Mairal, Jennifer Ly, Alvin Ng, Ingo Pinnau
  • Helium recovery from gas streams
    Publication number: 20050217479
    Abstract: Processes for recovering helium from reject gas streams of various types that arise during natural gas processing. The processes include a membrane gas separation step. The reject gas stream is treated in the membrane separation step to yield a helium-enriched permeate stream and a helium-depleted residue stream. The permeate stream is sent for further helium separation or purification in the gas plant or at another facility or sold as crude helium. The residue stream is discharged from the process to a vent line, fuel line, purge line or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Hale, Kaaeid Lokhandwala
  • Separation of organic mixtures using gas separation or pervaporation and dephlegmation
    Patent number: 6899743
    Abstract: A process for treating mixtures of organic components, including azeotropic mixtures. The process includes a gas- or liquid-phase membrane separation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Richard W. Baker, Anurag P. Mairal
  • Gas separation using coated membranes
    Patent number: 6896717
    Abstract: A membrane-based process for separating mixtures of target gases if the gas mixture also contains C3+ hydrocarbon vapors. The process uses gas-separation membranes having a base membrane and a coating layer. The base membrane incorporates a selective layer made from a polymer selective between the light gases to be separated. The coating layer comprises a fluorinated polymer capable of protecting the base membrane from C3+ hydrocarbon vapors and liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Rolande J. Blanc
  • Reverse osmosis membrane and process
    Publication number: 20050077243
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis membrane, and methods for making and using the membrane. The membrane has a continuous, defect-free, non-porous, hydrophilic coating that reduces the susceptibility to fouling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Jennifer Ly, Richard Baker
  • Zein recovery using non-porous membranes
    Patent number: 6846909
    Abstract: A membrane process for treating zein solutions to increase the zein concentration in the solution. The process uses a non-porous membrane that preferentially permeates the solvent and rejects the zein. Optionally, the process can be operated as a diafiltration process to yield a concentrate of high zein purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Zein recovery using non-porous membranes
    Publication number: 20040230041
    Abstract: A membrane process for treating zein solutions to increase the zein concentration in the solution. The process uses a non-porous membrane that preferentially permeates the solvent and rejects the zein. Optionally, the process can be operated as a diafiltration process to yield a concentrate of high zein purity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Natural gas dehydration apparatus
    Publication number: 20040206242
    Abstract: A process and corresponding apparatus for dehydrating gas, especially natural gas. The process includes an absorption step and a membrane pervaporation step to regenerate the liquid sorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Alvin Ng, Anurag P. Mairal
  • Natural gas dehydration process and apparatus
    Patent number: 6789288
    Abstract: A process and corresponding apparatus for dehydrating gas, especially natural gas. The process includes an absorption step and a membrane pervaporation step to regenerate the liquid sorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Alvin Ng, Anurag P. Mairal
  • Liquid-phase separation of low molecular weight organic compounds
    Publication number: 20040173529
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels, Ankur D. Jariwala
  • Separation process using pervaporation and dephlegmation
    Patent number: 6755975
    Abstract: A process for treating liquids containing organic compounds and water. The process includes a pervaporation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component (usually the organic) as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component (usually the water) as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process. The membrane separation step may also be performed in the vapor phase, or by membrane distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Franklin R. Alvarez, Richard W. Baker
  • Treatment of shipboard-generated oily wastewaters
    Publication number: 20040079706
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating oily wastewater, such as bilge water or ballast water, generated on a ship. The process uses a combination of a centrifugal separation step and a membrane separation step, such as an ultrafiltration step. The membrane separation step uses a dense, non-porous filtration membrane. The process is able to remove both emulsified oil and dissolved oil from the wastewater to low levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Johannes G. Wijmans, Ingo Pinnau, Jennifer H. Ly
  • Natural gas dehydration process and apparatus
    Publication number: 20040079228
    Abstract: A process and corresponding apparatus for dehydrating gas, especially natural gas. The process includes an absorption step and a membrane pervaporation step to regenerate the liquid sorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Alvin Ng, Anurag P. Mairal
  • Gas separation using coated membranes
    Publication number: 20040050250
    Abstract: A membrane-based process for separating mixtures of target gases if the gas mixture also contains C3+ hydrocarbon vapors. The process uses gas-separation membranes having a base membrane and a coating layer. The base membrane incorporates a selective layer made from a polymer selective between the light gases to be separated. The coating layer comprises a fluorinated polymer capable of protecting the base membrane from C3+ hydrocarbon vapors and liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Rolande J. Blanc