Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the dissolved gas content of aqueous liquid containing a dissolved gas by providing a microporous hydrophobic hollow fibre membrane, to provide at equilibrium a stable interface between an aqueous liquid phase containing dissolved gas on one side of the membrane and a gaseous phase on the other side of the membrane, and controlling the aqueous phase and gaseous phase pressures, such that in operation the gaseous phase pressure is up to but not exceeding the aqueous phase pressure, and flowing the gaseous and liquid phases across the membrane, to provide simultaneous mass transfer through the membrane of a first gas in the gaseous phase into the liquid phase and of a second gas dissolved in the aqueous liquid into the gaseous phase, whereby the gas content of the first gas in the aqueous phase is increased, the gas content of the second gas in the gaseous phase is decreased and the total dissolved gas pressure (TG) of the aqueous phase i

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for separating a mixture containing an aqueous liquid and an immiscible organic phase using microporous hollow fibers. Such mixtures are separated into a substantially organic-free aqueous phase and a substantially aqueous-free organic phase. The mixture is pressurized in a controlled low shear manner to minimize emulsification as it is contacted with the fibers. Productivity is enhanced by separating as a third product stream, a further organic phase containing only small amounts of an aqueous phase, which for some applications can usefully be combined with the substantially aqueous-free organic phase. Other ways for enhancing productivity are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for mixing discrete, microscopic portions of a gas (oxygen) in a liquid (water), wherein the liquid is brought into contact with a liquid repellent side of a microporous membrane, and the gas is contacted with the other side. The membrane, which may be a bundle of hollow fibers, has effective pore pathway diameters generally in the range 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m, and the liquid pressure is regulated not to exceed that of the gas or to cause liquid to pass through the membrane. Gas/liquid mixed in this manner is conveyed and delivered in a low-liquid-turbulence incurring manner to avoid the discrete, microscopic gas portions from combining and provide them with a long retention time in the liquid.

Abstract: An improved process for recovery of ethylene from a polymerization process is described. A normally solid membrane is employed to recover an ethylene enriched gas stream from the polymerization vent gases. The ethylene enriched gas stream is recycled to the polymerization process.