Patents by Inventor Andre R. Da Costa

Andre R. Da Costa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20020124722
    Abstract: A process for separating carbon dioxide from a multicomponent gas mixture containing carbon dioxide and a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas or associated gas, using gas-separation membranes selective for carbon dioxide over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Karl D. Amo, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
  • Publication number: 20020104435
    Abstract: A process for separating hydrogen from a multicomponent gas mixture containing hydrogen and a hydrocarbon, using gas-separation membranes selective for hydrogen over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Karl Amo, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
  • Patent number: 6425267
    Abstract: A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen. The invention relies on membrane separation using methane-selective membranes, but does not require the membranes to be operated at very low temperatures. We have found that, by using a two-step membrane system design, and controlling the operating pressures for the membrane steps within certain ranges, the capital and operating costs of the process can be kept within economically acceptable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Johannes G. Wijmans, Andre R. Da Costa
  • Patent number: 6414202
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing isopropyl alcohol by reacting propylene with a reagent, including treating a vent stream from the reaction zone, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30% propane or more, which is vented from the process, and a permeate stream typically containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
  • Patent number: 6361582
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing the gas and a C3+ hydrocarbon vapor, using gas-separation membranes selective for the gas over the C3+ hydrocarbon vapor. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Karl D. Amo, Ramin Daniels
  • Patent number: 6361583
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing an organic compound gas or vapor, using gas-separation membranes selective for the gas over the organic compound. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated cyclic structure of an at least 5-member ring, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Karl D. Amo, Ramin Daniels
  • Patent number: 6271319
    Abstract: A process for polypropylene manufacturing, including treating a vent stream from the polymerization reactor, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30% propane or more, which is vented from the polymerization process, and a permeate stream containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He