Abstract: A system for crystallizing a material that is dissolved in a solvent includes: a crystallization device through which a solution that is to be concentrated flows, the solution including the solvent containing the material to be crystallized and dissolved in the solvent, and a liquid having a lower temperature than the solution to be concentrated. The system includes at least one flow channel guiding the solution to be concentrated and at least one flow channel guiding the liquid, where the inner space of each respective flow channel guiding the liquid is delimited at least in part by a membrane wall that is permeable for the vaporous solvent, where a vapor pressure difference enables the solvent to pass from the solution to be concentrated across the membrane wall.

Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system for treating an exhaust produced by an engine. The exhaust after-treatment system includes an exhaust passage, at least one catalytic exhaust after-treatment component in communication with the exhaust passage for treating the exhaust, and a water-removal device in communication with the exhaust passage that receives a portion of the exhaust therein at a location positioned upstream from the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component. The water-removal device is defined by a housing that includes a water-removal membrane that separates water from the portion of the exhaust to provide a permeate that is enriched with water, and to produce a retentate that is water depleted that facilitates the treating of the exhaust by the catalytic exhaust after-treatment component.

Abstract: An enrichment apparatus and process for enriching a hydrogen sulfide concentration in an acid gas stream to create a hydrogen sulfide rich stream for feed to a Claus. The enrichment apparatus comprises a hydrocarbon selective separation unit operable to separate the acid gas stream into a hydrocarbon rich stream and a purified acid gas stream, wherein the acid gas stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons, a hydrogen sulfide selective separation unit operable to separate the purified acid gas stream to create the hydrogen sulfide rich stream and a hydrogen sulfide lean stream, the hydrogen sulfide rich stream having a concentration of hydrogen sulfide, and the Claus unit operable to recover sulfur from the carbon dioxide lean stream. The enrichment apparatus can include a carbon dioxide selective separation unit in fluid communication with the hydrogen sulfide selective separation unit, operable to separate the hydrogen sulfide rich stream.

Abstract: A process for separating components or a fluid mixture using membranes comprising a selective layer made from copolymers of an amorphous per fluorinated dioxolane and a fluorovinyl monomer. The resulting membranes have superior selectivity performance for certain fluid components of interest while maintaining fast permeance compared to membranes prepared using conventional perfluoropolymers, such as Teflon® AF, Hyflon® AD, and Cytop®.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively separating a straight-chain conjugated diene with high purity from a mixture containing the straight-chain conjugated diene and at least one type of straight-chain olefin. The method involves separating the straight-chain conjugated diene from the mixture containing the straight-chain conjugated diene and the straight-chain olefin using a zeolite membrane composite. The composite contains a porous support and a zeolite layer formed on the surface and in the fine pores of the support, and the zeolite contains an alkali metal cation.

Abstract: An aircraft fuel deoxygenation system includes a boost pump, a contactor-separator, and a centrifuge-separator pump. The boost pump is adapted to receive fuel from a fuel source and inert gas from an inert gas source, and is configured to mix the fuel and inert gas and supply a fuel/gas mixture. The contactor-separator is coupled to receive the fuel/gas mixture and is configured to remove oxygen from the fuel and thereby generate and supply deoxygenated fuel with entrained purge gas and separated purge gas. The centrifuge-separator pump is coupled to receive the deoxygenated fuel with entrained purge gas and is configured to separate and remove the entrained purge gas from the deoxygenated fuel and supply the deoxygenated fuel and additional purge gas.

Abstract: A process for treating an effluent gas stream arising from a manufacturing operation that produces an olefin or an olefin derivative to recover unreacted olefin. The process involves compressing the effluent gas stream, which comprises an olefin, a paraffin, and a third gas, to produce a first compressed stream, then directing the first compressed stream to a membrane separation pretreatment step. The permeate stream withdrawn from this step is enriched in olefin and is sent to a second compressor, which produces a second compressed stream that is then cooled and condensed. The condensation step produces a liquid condensate and an uncondensed gas stream. The uncondensed gas stream undergoes a second membrane separation step to produce another olefin-enriched permeate stream, which is recirculated within the process prior to the second compression step, and an olefin-depleted residue stream, which may be purged from the process.

Abstract: Described is a method for vacuum degassing of a liquid such as a solvent for a liquid chromatography system. The method includes modulating application of a vacuum to a fluid channel of a degasser so that each volume of a liquid drawn from the degasser experiences a residence time that is equal to the residence times of the other volumes. The residence time is determined as a time that the volume resides in the fluid channel under application of the vacuum and to a magnitude of the applied vacuum. The method is advantageous for use with liquid chromatography systems where differences in the diffusion rates of solvents into the degasser vacuum can otherwise introduce error into the composition gradient of a mobile phase.

Abstract: Provided are a method of and a device for purifying isopropyl alcohol. Water may be effectively removed from a feed including water and isopropyl alcohol while consuming a minimum amount of energy, and therefore, a high-purity isopropyl alcohol may be obtained.

Abstract: Reverse osmosis membranes made by interfacial polymerization of a monomer in a nonpolar (e.g. organic) phase together with a monomer in a polar (e.g. aqueous) phase on a porous support membrane. Interfacial polymerization process is disclosed for preparing a highly permeable RO membrane, comprising: contacting on a porous support membrane, a) a first solution containing 1,3-diaminobenzene, and b) a second solution containing trimesoyl chloride, wherein at least one of solutions a) and b) contains nanoparticles when said solutions are first contacted, and recovering a highly permeable RO membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers which are useful in hydrophilically modifying porous fluoropolymer supports. An example of the copolymers is: Also disclosed are a method of preparing such copolymers, a method of modifying porous fluoropolymer surfaces, and hydrophilic fluoropolymer porous membranes prepared therefrom. Also disclosed is a method of filtering fluids by the use of the hydrophilic fluoropolymer porous membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed are copolymers suitable for hydrophilically modifying the surface of fluoropolymer membranes. An example of the copolymers is: Also disclosed are a method of preparing the copolymers, a method of hydrophilically modifying porous fluoropolymer supports, hydrophilic porous fluoropolymer membranes prepared from the copolymers, and a method of filtering fluids by the use of the hydrophilic porous fluoropolymer membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed are hydrophilic porous PTFE membranes comprising PTFE and an amphiphilic copolymer, for example, a copolymer of the formula: wherein m and n are as described herein. Also disclosed are a method of preparing hydrophilic porous PTFE membranes and a method of filtering fluids through such membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymers suitable for hydrophilically modifying the surface of porous fluoropolymer supports, for example, a copolymer of the formula: Also disclosed are a method of preparing the polymers, a method of hydrophilically modifying porous fluoropolymer supports, hydrophilic fluoropolymer porous membranes prepared from the polymers, and a method of filtering fluids through the porous membranes.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an aromatic polysulfone resin is offered which is suitable as film material, especially in porous membranes. The aromatic polysulfone resin of the present invention has a reduced viscosity of 0.55-0.65 dL/g, and preferably 0.58-0.62 dL/g, number average molecular weight (Mn) of 22000 or more, and preferably 23500 or more, and a value of the ratio of weight average molecular weight (Mw) relative to number average molecular weight (Mn) of 2.54 or less, and preferably 2.50 or less.

Abstract: A heat exchange system may include a first heat exchange circuit and a second heat exchange circuit. The first heat exchange circuit may circulate a first working fluid sequentially through a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a membrane contactor. The second heat exchange circuit may direct a second working fluid sequentially through the first heat exchanger and the membrane contactor, where the second working fluid includes solute and solvent. The first heat exchanger and the membrane contactor may transfer heat energy from the second working fluid to the first working fluid, and the second heat exchanger may transfer heat energy from the first working fluid to a third working fluid. The membrane contactor may extract a portion of the solvent from the second working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a composite membrane excellent in both durability and moisture permeability. The present invention provides a composite membrane formed by laminating a layer of a moisture-permeable resin on one surface of a hydrophobic porous membrane, the composite membrane being characterized in that the layer of the moisture-permeable resin is included in a reinforcing porous membrane.

Abstract: A composition including a diamine compound and a dianhydride compound, wherein the diamine compound includes a first diamine compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, wherein, in Chemical Formula 1, T1 to T8 and L1 to L8 are the same as defined in the detailed description.

Abstract: The present invention provides composite membranes for membrane distillation and related methods of manufacture. In particular, there is provided a composite hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane comprising a hydrophilic polymer layer and a hydrophobic polymer layer comprising fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules, wherein said composite membrane has a high vapor flux. Also provided herein are methods of manufacturing and optimizing the composite membranes and a membrane distillation system comprising the composite membranes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to high molecular weight polystyrene-polydialkylsiloxane-polystyrene (“SDS”) triblock copolymer compositions and methods of separating one or more organic compounds from an aqueous solution using membranes derived from SDS triblock copolymers. The methods may be used to separate the one or more organic compounds from an aqueous solution produced in a fermentation process. In some embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include an alcohol, such as, for example, ethanol. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include acetone. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include acetone, ethanol, and n-butanol produced in an acetone-ethanol-n-butanol (ABE) fermentation process. In other embodiments, the one or more organic compounds include one or more byproducts produced in a fermentation process.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a membrane separation apparatus and a membrane separation method capable of reducing energy consumption, [Solution] A membrane separation apparatus (10) includes: a membrane separator (20) supplied with a fluid (X) containing a component (A) and a component (B) and separating the fluid (X) into a fluid (Y) having a higher concentration of the component (A) than the fluid (X) and a fluid (Z) having a lower concentration of the component (A) than the fluid (X) by using a separation membrane; a first compressor (21) adiabatically compressing the fluid (Y); a first heat exchanger (11) to which the fluid (Y) adiabatically compressed by the first compressor (21) is introduced as a heat source; and a second heat exchanger (12) to which the fluid (Z) is introduced as a heat source.

Abstract: A process for treating an effluent gas stream arising from a manufacturing operation that produces an olefin or a non-polymeric olefin derivative. The process involves cooling and condensing the effluent gas stream, which comprises an olefin, a paraffin, and a third gas, to produce a liquid condensate and an uncondensed (residual) gas stream. Both streams are then passed through membrane separation steps. The membrane separation of the uncondensed gas stream results in an olefin-enriched stream and an olefin-depleted stream. The olefin-enriched stream is recirculated within the process prior to the condensation step. The membrane separation of the condensate also results in an olefin-enriched stream, which may be recycled for use within the manufacturing operation, and an olefin-depleted stream, which may be purged from the process.

Abstract: Process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: feeding said aqueous stream containing the organic by products of the reaction to one or more pervaporation units, said one or more pervaporation units comprising at least one polymeric pervaporation membrane, obtaining two outgoing streams: —an aqueous stream (i) enriched in alcohols having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; —an aqueous stream (ii) enriched in water.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for separating liquid mixtures, which includes passing a liquid stream of the liquid mixture over a membrane, the membrane being selective for at least one of a first compound and a second compound, whereby at least part of the liquid stream passes through the membrane leaving the other side of the membrane as a vapor, with the remainder of the liquid stream forming a retentate stream, and condensing the vapor on a condenser surface having a lower temperature than the liquid stream to give a distillate stream, the condenser surface forming a non-permeable heat conducting separation wall between the distillate stream and a cooling stream which cooling stream is a) a feed stream, or b) the retentate stream.

Abstract: A process for recovering unreacted olefin in a polyolefin manufacturing process comprising the treatment of a purge bin vent gas. The process involves cooling and condensing the vent gas (purge stream), which contains at least an olefin, a paraffin, and hydrogen, to produce a liquid condensate and an uncondensed (residual) gas stream. Both streams are then passed through membrane separation steps. The membrane separation of the uncondensed gas stream results in a residue stream containing mostly nitrogen and/or paraffin and a permeate stream enriched in either C2+ hydrocarbons or olefin, depending on the type of separation. The permeate from this step is recirculated within the process prior to the condensation step. The membrane separation of the condensate results in a residue stream containing paraffin and a permeate stream enriched in olefin, which may be recycled to the polymerization reactor.

Abstract: A method and system for steam generation and purification is presented. The method includes receiving a fuel stream, a water stream, and an oxidant stream in a direct contact steam generation (DCSG) apparatus; and generating a gas mixture stream comprising steam and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the DCSG apparatus. The method further includes receiving at least a portion of the gas mixture stream in a membrane separator, and separating at least a portion of the steam from the gas mixture stream to generate a permeate stream. The method further includes recirculating at least a portion of the permeate stream to the DCSG apparatus; monitoring a CO2 content in the gas mixture stream; and discharging at least a portion of the gas mixture stream at an outlet of the DCSG apparatus as a product stream if the CO2 content is lower than a determined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for dehumidifying gas is provided which converts humid gas into dehumidified gas using a hydrophilic membrane that includes a superabsorbent polymer. A sub-dew point cooling tower, sub-dew point evaporative cooler and sub-dew point water harvesting system which utilize the apparatus for dehumidifying gas are also provided.

Abstract: A dehydration system has improved membrane performance. The dehydration system includes a dehydrating apparatus 1 comprising, in a dehydrating apparatus body, a water separation membrane module in which a water separation membrane having at least one flow path extending in the up and down direction to cause a liquid 50 to pass through is provided with a liquid inlet at the bottom thereof and a liquid outlet at the top thereof; and a shell 11 defined by the outer surface of the water separation membrane module and the inner wall of the dehydrating apparatus body, wherein water in the liquid permeates the water separation membrane while the liquid rises in the water separation membrane, and moves in the shell, whereby the liquid is dehydrated; a pressure reducing device 13 for reducing the pressure of the shell 11; a pressure device for pressurizing the liquid before the liquid is fed to the water separation membrane module; and a heating device for heating the pressurized liquid.

Abstract: A tubular membrane module and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein tubular membranes form an interference self-sealing fit with hard tube sheets with the aid of a hard hollow mandrel inserted at the end of the tubular membranes. The tubular membranes are comprised of porous, compressible PTFE and/or fluorocopolymers. The self-sealing method described herein requires no heat treatment, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the tubular membranes and without the processing complexity of utilizing any additional potting agent, extrusion, or chemical cross-linking of any polymeric adhesives. The self sealing PTFE tubular membranes have superb chemical resistance and temperature resistance, and through the benefits of this invention, offer higher pullout resistance than typically observed with potting materials such as polyurethane and epoxy.

Abstract: This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.

Abstract: Membranes for membrane distillation include at least one hollow fiber porous hydrophobic membrane, the at least one membrane including carbon nanotubes incorporated into the pore structure of the membrane. Membrane distillation systems may include a heat exchanger operably connected to a hollow fiber membrane module with one or more membranes including carbon nanotubes. Methods of solvent removal, sample preconcentration and desalination employing hollow fiber porous hydrophobic membranes with carbon nanotubes are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite comprising a porous substrate at least partially coated with a coating layer prepared from curing a coating composition (C), the coating composition (C) comprising at least one curable perfluoropolyether (PFPE) polymer. The invention further relates to a process for manufacturing a composite as afore-described, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a coating composition (C) comprising at least one curable perfluoropolyether (PFPE) polymer; (b) depositing said coating composition (C) on a porous substrate; and (c) crosslinking said coating composition (C) to form a porous substrate at least partially coated.

Abstract: A VMD system and method uses an aspirator to generate a vacuum pressure for drawing permeate from a membrane module. The aspirator generates the vacuum pressure by receiving and passing a circulating liquid and combines the permeate with the circulating liquid such that the permeate condensates in the circulating liquid. Using an aspirator (e.g., instead of a vacuum pump) allows a more efficient and cost-effective operation of the VMD system and method, particularly in a desalination application. A VMD system and method using an aspirator may be used in desalination and other applications including, without limitation, environmental cleanup (e.g., removal of volatile organic chemicals from water) and food and medical applications.

Abstract: Described is a liquid separation device comprising a porous support structure further comprising polymeric hollow fibers; an inorganic mesoporous silica membrane disposed on the porous support structure, wherein the inorganic mesoporous silica membrane is free of defects; and wherein the inorganic mesoporous silica membrane has a network of interconnected three-dimensional pores that interconnect with the porous support structure; and wherein the inorganic mesoporous silica membrane is a silylated mesoporous membrane. Also described are methods for making and using the liquid separation device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of preparing a NaA zeolite membrane for water/ethanol separation, and a method of separating water/ethanol using the same, wherein a water/ethanol mixture is separated by pervaporation using a NaA zeolite membrane employing a dual separation process, including: primary separation for increasing an ethanol concentration to 95˜97 wt % using a membrane having high water selectivity and low flux; and secondary separation for increasing the ethanol concentration to 97˜100 wt % using a membrane having low water selectivity and high flux, thereby obtaining excellent separation efficiency at comparatively low energy.

Abstract: Disclosed are mixed matrix polymeric membranes comprising a plurality of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), or in some aspects a zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), and a polymeric matrix, wherein the plurality of MOFs are attached to the polymeric matrix through covalent or hydrogen bonds or Van der Waals interaction.

Abstract: A system and method for passive capture of ammonia in an ammonia-containing liquid effluent. The invention allows for the passage of ammonia through microporous hydrophobic gas-permeable membranes and its capture in a circulated stripping solution with concomitant production of a concentrated non-volatile ammonium salt.

Abstract: This invention relates to self-cross-linkable and self-cross-linked aromatic polyimide polymers, their membranes and methods for making and using these polymers and membranes. The self-cross-linkable aromatic polyimide polymer described in the present invention comprises both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups. The self-cross-linked aromatic polyimide was formed via heating the self-cross-linkable aromatic polyimide polymer at ?300° C. The self-cross-linked aromatic polyimide membranes exhibit high selectivity in separation of mixtures of gases and liquids.

Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering water according to its isotopic forms. In some embodiments, a stream of water comprising at least two distinct isotopic forms of water may be directed into one or more filtration modules comprising a graphene oxide membrane. The graphene oxide membrane(s) may be used to separate the stream into a permeate and a retentate, wherein the permeate comprises an increased concentration of light water relative to the retentate.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for dehydrating a water containing source of formaldehyde in which water is separated from the water containing source of formaldehyde using a zeolite membrane. In certain aspects, the water containing source of formaldehyde includes a separation enhancer having a relative static permittivity ranging from 2.5 to 20, and the water containing source of formaldehyde may further include methanol. In certain aspects, (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester may be produced using the dehydrated source of formaldehyde.

Abstract: A method for removal and condensation of vapors from within an enclosed space (120) is disclosed. An enclosed space (120) containing material (110) is surrounded by an insulative permeable layer (130) having a lowering temperature gradient (230) between the inner surface (220) and the outer surfaces (240). The insulative layer (130) may also be covered by an impermeable layer (140). Heating the material (110) in the enclosed space (120) causes the formation of vapors at a positive pressure within the enclosed space (120). Vapors pass through the inner surface (220) of the insulative permeable layer (130) and contact the permeable materials and are condensed by the lowering temperature within the insulative layer (130). The condensate liquid passes downwardly through the insulative layer (130) for collection.

Abstract: A water filtration system with power generating capability includes a membrane that receives relatively hot water on a dirty side, purifies the hot water, and transmits it to a clean side having relatively cold purified water. The system further includes at least one thermoelectric element coupled to the membrane that absorbs thermal energy from the dirty side and emits thermal energy into the clean side to generate electrical power. The system further includes at least one conductor electrically coupled to the at least one thermoelectric element that channels generated electrical power away from the at least one thermoelectric element.

Abstract: Provided is an oil/water separation method that is capable of decreasing the frequency of clogging. The method is for separating oil and water from each other that are generated by an in-situ recovery method for producing bitumen 82 from oil sand (1500). After oil-containing water (83, 84) obtained as a result of the bitumen 82 being removed from a bitumen-mixed fluid 81 recovered from under the ground is prepared, the step of membrane-distilling the oil-containing water 84 by use of a distillation membrane member 10 formed of a porous membrane 20 is performed.

Abstract: A carbon membrane formed by carbonizing a phenol resin having at least one kind of atomic groups among a methylene bond, a dimethylene ether bond, and a methylol group, wherein the total mole content of the atomic groups is 100 to 180% with respect to the phenolic nuclei. A pervaporation separation method using the carbon membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a flow of steam in a steam generator having a heater for heating fluid in a vessel is disclosed. The method includes: delivering the steam from the steam generator to a first side of a filtering membrane; receiving purified steam from a second side of the filtering membrane, the purified steam having a steam flow rate; determining at least one coefficient of a substantially linear mathematical relationship between the steam flow rate of the purified steam and duty cycle; and configuring the steam generator to control: the duty cycle of the heater based on the determined at least one coefficient and a target steam flow rate; and/or the target steam flow rate based on the at least one coefficient and a target duty cycle of the heater.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to high permeability, UV cross-linkable copolyimide polymers and membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations, as well as methods for making and using these membranes. The invention provides a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using the high permeability copolyimide membrane or the UV cross-linked copolyimide membrane, the process comprising: (a) providing a high permeability copolyimide membrane or a UV cross-linked copolyimide membrane which is permeable to said at least one gas; (b) contacting the mixture on one side of the high permeability copolyimide membrane or the UV cross-linked copolyimide membrane to cause said at least one gas to permeate the membrane; and (c) removing from the opposite side of the membrane a permeate gas composition comprising a portion of said at least one gas which permeated said membrane.

Abstract: Membranes for membrane distillation include at least one hollow fiber porous hydrophobic membrane, the at least one membrane including carbon nanotubes incorporated into the pore structure of the membrane. Membrane distillation systems may include a heat exchanger operably connected to a hollow fiber membrane module with one or more membranes including carbon nanotubes. Methods of solvent removal, sample preconcentration and desalination employing hollow fiber porous hydrophobic membranes with carbon nanotubes are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention presents innovative methods to treat saline streams such as produced water, seawater, and the like. The invention can be used to: (1) de-NORM produced water; or (2) de-NORM and partially de-salt produced water; or (3) de-NORM and partially de-salt and de-ionize produced water; or (4) de-oil, de-NORM, de-salt and de-ionize produced water. The invention can also be used to de-sulfate seawater and the like in conjunction with desalting plants.

Abstract: A method of supplying engineered water for drilling or hydraulic fracturing of wells, where the water comes from either fresh sources or is recycled from drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations whereby the water is treated for example with a mechanical vapor recompression unit or other treating apparatuses and methods to significantly reduce the concentration of constituents that are deleterious to drilling or hydraulic fracturing chemistries while keeping desirable constituents, such as semi-volatile antimicrobial constituents. The final composition of the engineered water is designed to contain constituents that are optimal for drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for improving the performance of a membrane for use in a membrane distillation process, and a membrane produced by the method. The method includes subjecting the membrane to a pressure difference across the membrane in order to open closed pores in the membrane.