Abstract: A process is provided of making facilitated transport membrane comprising a relatively hydrophilic, very small pore, nanoporous support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores. In addition, the process provides a new method of making facilitated transport membrane spiral wound elements or hollow fiber modules for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for C3=/C3 and C2=/C2 separations.

Abstract: This invention provides a new high selectivity stable facilitated transport membrane comprising a polyethersulfone (PES)/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) blend support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the pores on the skin layer surface of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane; a hydrophilic polymer coated on the skin layer surface of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer coating layer and the skin layer surface pores of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane, and methods of making such membranes. This invention also provides a method of using the high selectivity stable facilitated transport membrane comprising PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane for olefin/paraffin separations such as propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane separations.

Abstract: This invention provides a new high flux reverse osmosis (RO) membrane comprising a nanoporous polyethersulfone (PES)/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) blend support membrane (PES/PEO-Si) comprising a polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) polymer and a polyethersulfone (PES) polymer, a hydrophilic polymer inside the pores on the skin layer surface of the polyethersulfone/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane blend support membrane, and a thin, nanometer layer of cross-linked polyamide on the skin layer surface of said polyethersulfone/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane blend support membrane, and a method of making such a membrane. This invention also provides a method of using the new high flux reverse osmosis membrane comprising nanoporous PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane for water purification.

Abstract: A process is provided of making facilitated transport membrane comprising a relatively hydrophilic, very small pore, nanoporous support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores. In addition, the process provides a new method of making facilitated transport membrane spiral wound elements or hollow fiber modules for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for C3=/C3 and C2=/C2 separations.

Abstract: This invention provides a new facilitated transport membrane comprising a relatively hydrophilic, very small pore, nanoporous support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores, a method of making this membrane, and the use of this membrane for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for C3=/C3 and C2=/C2 separations.

Abstract: This invention discloses a membrane composition, a method of making, and applications for a new type of high selectivity, high plasticization-resistant and solvent-resistant, both chemically and UV cross-linked polyimide membranes. Gas permeation tests on these membranes demonstrated that they not only showed high selectivities, but also showed extremely high CO2 plasticization resistance under CO2 pressure up to 4923 kPa (700 psig). This new type of high selectivity, high plasticization-resistant and solvent-resistant, both chemically and UV cross-linked polyimide membranes can be used for a wide range of gas separations such as separations of H2/CH4, He/CH4, CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), O2/N2, iso/normal paraffins, polar molecules such as H2O, H2S, and NH3 mixtures with CH4, N2, H2, and other light gases separations. The membranes can also be used for liquid separations such as in the removal of organic compounds from water.

Abstract: This invention provides a new high selectivity stable facilitated transport membrane comprising a polyethersulfone (PES)/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) blend support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the pores on the skin layer surface of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane; a hydrophilic polymer coated on the skin layer surface of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer coating layer and the skin layer surface pores of the PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane, and methods of making such membranes. This invention also provides a method of using the high selectivity stable facilitated transport membrane comprising PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane for olefin/paraffin separations such as propylene/propane and ethylene/ethane separations.

Abstract: This invention provides a new high flux reverse osmosis (RO) membrane comprising a nanoporous polyethersulfone (PES)/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) blend support membrane (PES/PEO-Si) comprising a polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane (PEO-Si) polymer and a polyethersulfone (PES) polymer, a hydrophilic polymer inside the pores on the skin layer surface of the polyethersulfone/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane blend support membrane, and a thin, nanometer layer of cross-linked polyamide on the skin layer surface of said polyethersulfone/polyethylene oxide-polysilsesquioxane blend support membrane, and a method of making such a membrane. This invention also provides a method of using the new high flux reverse osmosis membrane comprising nanoporous PES/PEO-Si blend support membrane for water purification.

Abstract: This invention discloses a membrane composition, a method of making, and applications for a new type of high selectivity, high plasticization-resistant and solvent-resistant, both chemically and UV cross-linked polyimide membranes. Gas permeation tests on these membranes demonstrated that they not only showed high selectivities, but also showed extremely high CO2 plasticization resistance under CO2 pressure up to 4923 kPa (700 psig). This new type of high selectivity, high plasticization-resistant and solvent-resistant, both chemically and UV cross-linked polyimide membranes can be used for a wide range of gas separations such as separations of H2/CH4, He/CH4, CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), O2/N2, iso/normal paraffins, polar molecules such as H2O, H2S, and NH3 mixtures with CH4, N2, H2, and other light gases separations. The membranes can also be used for liquid separations such as in the removal of organic compounds from water.

Abstract: This invention provides a new facilitated transport membrane comprising a relatively hydrophilic, very small pore, nanoporous support membrane, a hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane, a thin, nonporous, hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane, and metal salts incorporated in the hydrophilic polymer layer coated on the surface of the support membrane and the hydrophilic polymer inside the very small nanopores, a method of making this membrane, and the use of this membrane for olefin/paraffin separations, particularly for C3=/C3 and C2=/C2 separations.

Abstract: An asymmetric integrally-skinned flat sheet membrane comprising a miscible blend of an aromatic polyethersulfone (PES) polymer and an aromatic polyimide polymer is used for gas separations such as hydrogen purification, separation of hydrogen and methane and to separate other gases and liquids. UV radiation may be applied to the surface of the membrane for improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides high permeance copolyimide membranes and methods for making and using these membranes for gas separations such as for hydrogen purification and for acid gas removal from natural gas. The random copolyimide polymers used to make the copolyimide membrane may be UV crosslinked to improve selectivity in separating mixtures of gases or in purifying liquids. The membranes may be fabricated into any known membrane configuration such as a flat sheet or a hollow fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provided a high temperature resistant epoxy resins for producing hollow fiber membrane modules for high temperature gas separation applications such as for natural gas upgrading and hydrogen purifications. This invention also relates to a hollow fiber membrane module comprising a bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes and a tube sheet formed by a high temperature resistant cured epoxy resin that is used to fix and bound said bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes. The invention also provides a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using the hollow fiber membrane modules comprising a bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes and a tube sheet formed by a high temperature resistant cured epoxy resin that is used to fix and bound said bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane comprising a polyimide polymer with hydroxyl functional groups cross-linked with epoxy functional groups on epoxysilicone polymer. The present invention also provides a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using the high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane. The process comprises providing the high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane which is permeable to the at least one gas; contacting the mixture on one side of the membrane to cause the at least one gas to permeate the membrane; and removing from the opposite side of the membrane a permeate gas composition comprising a portion of the at least one gas which permeated the high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides high permeance copolyimide membranes and methods for making and using these membranes for gas separations such as for hydrogen purification and for acid gas removal from natural gas. The random copolyimide polymers used to make the copolyimide membrane may be UV crosslinked to improve selectivity in separating mixtures of gases or in purifying liquids. The membranes may be fabricated into any known membrane configuration such as a flat sheet or a hollow fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane comprising a polyimide polymer with hydroxyl functional groups cross-linked with epoxy functional groups on epoxysilicone polymer. The present invention also provides a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using the high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane. The process comprises providing the high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane which is permeable to the at least one gas; contacting the mixture on one side of the membrane to cause the at least one gas to permeate the membrane; and removing from the opposite side of the membrane a permeate gas composition comprising a portion of the at least one gas which permeated the high selectivity epoxysilicone-cross-linked polyimide membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provided a high temperature resistant epoxy resins for producing hollow fiber membrane modules for high temperature gas separation applications such as for natural gas upgrading and hydrogen purifications. This invention also relates to a hollow fiber membrane module comprising a bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes and a tube sheet formed by a high temperature resistant cured epoxy resin that is used to fix and bound said bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes. The invention also provides a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using the hollow fiber membrane modules comprising a bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes and a tube sheet formed by a high temperature resistant cured epoxy resin that is used to fix and bound said bundle of multiple high performance hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: A copolyimide polymer membrane is provided for separation of hydrocarbons including separation of olefins from paraffins and isoparaffins from other paraffins. The copolyimide polymer membranes include a poly(3,3?-diaminobenzophenone-3,3?,5,5?-tetramethyl-4,4?-methylene dianiline-pyromellitic dianhydride) (abbreviated as poly(DAB-TMMDA-PMDA)). The copolyimide membranes prepared from poly(DAB-TMMDA-PMDA) with varying molar ratios of DAB to TMMDA (abbreviated as PI-DAB-T) showed excellent separation properties for propylene/propane separation.

Abstract: The polyimide blend membrane in the present invention was prepared by blending a first aromatic polyimide with high permeability and a second aromatic polyimide with high selectivity for gas separation. The polyimide blend membrane in the present invention showed improved permeability compared to membranes made from the second aromatic polyimide and improved selectivity compared to membranes made from the first aromatic polyimide.

Abstract: The polyimide blend membrane in the present invention was prepared by blending a first aromatic polyimide with high permeability and a second aromatic polyimide with high selectivity for gas separation. The polyimide blend membrane in the present invention showed improved permeability compared to membranes made from the second aromatic polyimide and improved selectivity compared to membranes made from the first aromatic polyimide.