Abstract: Improved heavy oil conversion processes are disclosed in which the heavy oil feed is first thermally cracked using visbreaking or hydrovisbreaking technology to produce a product that is lower in molecular weight and boiling point than the feed. The product is then deasphalted using an alkane solvent at a solvent to feed volume ratio of less than 2 wherein separation of solvent and deasphalted oil from the asphaltenes is achieved through the use of a two-stage membrane separation system in which the second stage is a centrifugal membrane.

Abstract: Thin film composite electrolyte structures are disclosed that are preferably ionically conductive but not electronically conductive and are therefore suitable for use in electrochemical cells, such as secondary batteries based on sodium and sulfur. Vehicles including the electrochemical cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for separating sulfur species from hydrocarbon streams, particularly cracked naphtha streams, using extractive distillation. The method effectively separates sulfur species from cracked naphtha streams without substantially lowering the olefin content.

Abstract: An improved membrane pervaporation and vapor permeation system is disclosed in which the vacuum is produced by a fluid passing through a Venturi-type nozzle. The fluid is chosen from solvents that have an affinity for the permeate molecules. It is applicable over of process feed rates, can be used with either organic or aqueous systems and conserves energy relative to existing technology.

Abstract: A feed stream comprising a mixture of at least two separable components is separated into a permeate rich in one or more components and a retentate lean in those same components by a process comprising dissolving the feed in a supercritical solvent under supercritical conditions to produce a solution and contacting the solution with a dense, non-porous perstraction membrane having a first and a second surface, said contacting being along a first surface, wherein a portion of the feed dissolves into the first surface of the membrane, migrates through the perstraction membrane under a concentration gradient and emerges from the membrane at the second surface, as a permeate, the permeate being removed from the second surface by use of a sweep fluid comprising a supercritical solvent at supercritical conditions which may be the same as or different from the supercritical solvent in which the feed is dissolved.

Abstract: A process for purifying crude dicyclopentadiene which comprises the steps of: cracking the crude dicyclopentadiene to form a monomeric-containing effluent which comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of: C.sub.4 acyclic dienes, C.sub.5 acyclic dienes, cyclopentadiene and methylcyclopentadiene; separating the monomeric-containing effluent into a cyclopentadiene-enriched stream and a cyclopentadiene-poor stream; dimerizing the cyclopentadiene-enriched stream to form a dimerizer effluent; contacting a membrane separator under pervaporation conditions with the dimerizer effluent wherein the C.sub.4 acyclic dienes, C.sub.5 acyclic dienes and cyclopentadiene permeate through the membrane separator and wherein a dicyclopentadiene product having a purity of at least about 98% is retained as retentate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polyester/amide membrane, its preparation and its use for organic liquid separation. The polyester/amide membrane is made by reacting a dianhydride with a polyester diol in a 2:1 to 1.05:1 mole ratio to end cap the diol to produce a prepolymer which is reacted with excess thionyl chloride to convert all of the unreacted anhydride and all carboxylic acid groups to acid chloride groups. The resulting acid chloride derivative is dissolved in organic solvent and interfacially reacted with a diamine dissolved in an aqueous solvent. The excess solutions are removed and the resulting thin film membrane is dried. The membranes are useful for organic liquid separations, especially the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures of same with non-aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably under perstraction or pervaporation conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-block polymeric material comprising an ester prepolymer chain extended with a second, different, compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (a) an (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, polyester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1; and (b) an (A) diamine combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, and dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, and mixtures thereof. The present invention is also directed to membranes of the above recited multi-block polymeric materials especially membranes comprising thin, dense films of said multi-block polymeric material deposited on a microporous support later producing a thin film composite membrane.

Abstract: Hollow fiber membrane separation elements are improved with respect to fluid flow and contacting by dividing the bundle of hollow membrane fibers in the element into discrete sub-bundles by use of baffles in the module.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-block polymeric material comprising a first amide acid prepolymer, made by combining (A) a diamine with (B) a dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, chain extended with a second, different, compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (A) a dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate and polyester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1.The present invention is also directed to membranes of the above recited multi-block polymeric materials, especially membranes comprising thin, dense films of said multi-block polymeric material deposited on a micro porous support layer producing a thin film composite membrane.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-block polymeric material comprising a urea prepolymer chain extended with a second compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (a) an (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, polyester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, and (b) an (A) diamine combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy and dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, and mixtures thereof. The present invention is also directed to membranes of the above recited multi-block polymeric material, especially membranes comprising them, dense films of said multi-block polymeric material deposited on a microporous support layer producing a thin film composite membrane.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for separating aromatic/non-aromatic mixtures a membrane comprised of a multi-block polymeric material comprising an ester prepolymer made by combining an (A) epoxy with a (B) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, chain extended with a second, different compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (a) and (A) diisocyanate combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, polyester, dianhydride or it corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, (b) and (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester combined with a monomer selected from (B) diisocyanate, polyester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to non-porous isocyanurate-crosslinked polyurethane membranes. These membranes are useful for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbons. The separation can be performed using any commonly accepted membrane separation technique, e.g. reverse osmosis, dialysis, pervaporation or perstraction but is preferably performed under pervaporation or perstraction conditions.

Abstract: A new membrane for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures of said aromatic hydrocarbons and non-aromatic hydrocarbons has been prepared comprising a highly aromatic polyurethane membrane. These highly aromatic polyurea/urethane membranes are symmetric, dense film membranes made from the corresponding polyurea/urethane copolymers by standard membrane casting techniques. The polyurea/urethane copolymers are produced by reacting dihydroxy or polyhydroxy compounds, such as polyethers or polyesters having molecular weights in the range of about 500 to 5000 with aliphatic, alkylaromatic or aromatic diisocyanates or polyisocyanates and low molecular weight chain extenders, such as diamines, polyamines or amino alcohols.

Abstract: A new membrane for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures of said aromatic hydrocarbons and non-aromatic hydrocarbons has been prepared comprising a highly aromatic polyurea/urethane membrane. These highly aromatic polyurea/urethane membranes are symmetric, dense film membranes made from the corresponding polyurea/urethane copolymers by standard membrane casting techniques. The polyurea/urethane copolymers are produced by reacting dihydroxy or polyhydroxy compounds, such as polyethers or polyesters having molecular weights in the range of about 500 to 5000 with aliphatic, alkylaromatic or aromatic diisocyanates or polyisocyanates and low molecular weight chain extenders, such as diamines, polyamines or amino alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-block polymeric material comprising a first prepolymer, made by combining epoxy with diamine, chain extended with a second, different compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (a) and (A) diisocyanate combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, polyester, dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester, and diamaine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, (b) an (A) polyester combined with (B) epoxy, in an A/B mole ratio ranging from a bout 2.0 to 1.05, (c) an (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester combined with one mole of a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, polyester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, and (d) an (A) diamine combined with a monomer selected from (B) diisocyanate and dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-block polymeric material comprising an imide prepolymer chain extended with a second, different, compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (a) an (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid - diester combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, polyester and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1 and (b) an (A) diamine combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate and dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid - diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, and mixtures thereof. The present invention is also directed to membranes of the above recited multi-block, polymeric material, especially membranes compising thin, dense films of said multi-block polymeric material deposited on a microporous support layer producing a thin film composite membrane.

Abstract: A multi-block polymer comprising an oxazolidone prepolymer chain extended with a second compatible prepolymer, the membrane made therefrom and the use of said membrane in aromatics/non-aromatics separations is disclosed. The multi-block polymer comprises an oxazolidone containing prepolymer chain extended with a second compatible prepolymer, said second prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers produced by combining (a) and (A) diisocyanate with a monomer selected from (B) polyester dianhydride or corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably 2.0 to 1.1; (b) an (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, polyester and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of using a multi-block polymeric material comprising a urea prepolymer chain extended with a second compatible prepolymer selected from the group of prepolymers comprising (a) an (A) dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy, diisocyanate, polyester, and diamine in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, and (b) an (A) diamine combined with a monomer selected from (B) epoxy and dianhydride or its corresponding tetraacid or diacid-diester in an A/B mole ratio ranging from about 2.0 to 1.05, preferably about 2.0 to 1.1, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Thin film membranes of polyurea, polyureapolyurethane alloy, polyurea-polyurea/urethane alloy or polyurea/urethane are prepared by deposition of a thin film of suspension of the selected polymer on a thick permeable support layer by the technique of preparing a suspension of the selected polymer in a solvent which does not dissolve the thick permeable support layer and permitting the solvent to evaporate and/or permeate through the thick-permeable layer.