Abstract: A module and an apparatus incorporating such module utilizing a plurality of tubular membrane elements, each configured to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing feed stream when an electric potential difference is applied to induce oxygen ion transport in an electrolyte thereof. The tubular membrane elements can be arranged in a bundle that is held in place by end insulating members. The insulating members can be positioned within opposed openings of end walls of a heated enclosure and can incorporate bores to allow an oxygen containing feed stream to flow past exposed ends of the tubular membrane elements for cooling the end seals of such elements. Further, first and second manifolds can be provided in a module in accordance with the present invention to collect separated oxygen from two separate portions of the tubular membrane elements.

Abstract: A multi-stage membrane process for the removal of carbon dioxide from syngas streams containing at least about 5 volume percent carbon dioxide. The syngas is preferably obtained by the gasification of a biomass feedstock.

Abstract: The invention relates to a specific apparatus, more particularly a chain of gas separation membrane modules, for separation of gas mixtures into two fractions each of elevated purity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the heat and water recovery from a transport membrane condenser (TMC) includes a non-moving mechanical device inserted into the TMC tubes to increase the heat transfer efficiency via the enhancement of the fluid turbulence and/or surface area. The apparatus and methods may be applied to porous tubes arranged in a spaced array, similar to a conventional shell and tube heat exchanger device. Other configurations of the TMC may be conceived and adapted for use with the described apparatus and method.

Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air-conditioning system that supplies a gas to a space to be air-conditioned and/or discharges a gas from the space to be air-conditioned through a permeable membrane in order to provide an air-conditioning system that can sufficiently block suspended matter in the air such as SPM, and can sufficiently introduce outside air in which the permeable membrane is an asymmetric membrane formed of a polymeric material prepared by polymerizing a monomer composition containing a predetermined monomer.

Abstract: First, a first porous body is manufactured by stretching, in a uniaxial direction, a sheet made of polytetrafluoroethylene having a standard specific gravity of 2.155 or more, and a second porous body is manufactured by stretching, in biaxial directions, a sheet made of polytetrafluoroethylene. Next, the first porous body is integrated with the second porous body by stretching a laminate of the first porous body and the second porous body in the same direction as the uniaxial direction while heating the laminate at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of polytetrafluoroethylene. Thus, a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane is produced.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the removal of gaseous acidic contaminants, especially carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulphide, in two or more stages from a gaseous hydrocarbonaceous feedstream (1) comprising hydrocarbons and said acidic contaminants, using one or more membranes in each separation stages. The gaseous hydrocarbonaceous feedstream is especially a natural gas stream. The process is especially suitable for feedstreams comprising very high amounts of acidic contaminants, especially carbon dioxide, e.g. more than 25 vol. %, or even more than 45 vol. %. In a first stage (2) a pure or almost pure stream of acidic contaminants is separated from the feedstream, the acidic contaminants (4) stream suitably containing less than 5 vol % of hydrocarbons. The remaining stream (3) comprises the hydrocarbons and still a certain amount of gaseous acidic contaminants.

Abstract: A process for preparing a composite membrane comprising a porous support layer and a discriminating layer, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a porous support layer; (b) incorporating an inert liquid into the pores of the support layer; (c) applying a curable composition to the support layer; and (d) curing the composition, thereby forming the discriminating layer on the porous support. The process is particularly useful for preparing gas separation composite membranes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of thin film composite membranes by interfacial polymerisation, in particular through the reaction of polyfunctional acyl halides with polyfunctional amines where the polyfunctional acyl halide is applied first to the support medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane/amine column system and process for removing acid gases from natural gas on a floating liquefied natural gas vessel. Several process configurations are provided to deal with a reduction in the effectiveness of the amine column by increasing the amount of acid gases being removed by the membrane system prior to the natural gas being sent to the amine column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for removing dissolved gas from makeup water in a water-cooled nuclear reactor. The present invention includes a storage tank for containing the makeup water that includes the dissolved gas, a membrane system positioned downstream of the storage tank to at least partially remove the dissolved gas from the makeup water; and a transport mechanism to transfer the makeup water from an outlet of the membrane system for use in the water-cooled nuclear reactor. The dissolved gas can include at least one of dissolved oxygen, dissolved nitrogen, dissolved argon and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to degassing devices for dialysate circuits. One embodiment has a first housing and a second housing positioned within the first housing in an annular relationship. A second embodiment comprises a dialysate regeneration system with urease, a dialyzer, and a housing with an external wall, where the external wall is exposed to atmosphere and comprises a material that passes gas but does not pass liquid and where the housing is positioned between the urease and dialyzer.

Abstract: A hollow fiber fluid separation device includes a hollow fiber cartridge, comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged around a central tubular core, a first tubesheet and a second tubesheet encapsulating respective distal ends of the hollow fiber bundle. The tubesheets have boreholes in fluid communication with bores of the hollow fiber membrane. In at least one of the tubesheets, the boreholes are formed radially and are in communication with the central tubular core. The hollow fiber fluid separation device can be utilized in liquid separation applications such as ultrafiltration and in gas separation processes such as air separation. The design disclosed herein is light weight and compact and is particularly advantageous at high operating temperatures when the pressure of the feed fluid introduced into the bores of hollow fibers is higher than the pressure on the shell side of the device.

Abstract: There is disclosed an asymmetric gas separation membrane exhibiting both improved gas separation performance and improved mechanical properties, which is made of a soluble aromatic polyimide comprised of a repeating unit represented by general formula (1): wherein B in general formula (1) B comprises 10 to 70 mol % of tetravalent unit B1 represented by general formula (B1) and 90 to 30 mol % of tetravalent unit B2 represented by general formula (B2), and A in general formula (1) comprises 10 to 50 mol % of bivalent unit A1 represented by general formula (A1a) or the like and 90 to 30 mol % of bivalent unit A2 represented by general formula (A2a) or the like.

Abstract: An air dehydration membrane module is provided with a sweep gas which is taken from the waste gas of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit. No additional compressor is required, other than the compressor forming part of the PSA unit. In another embodiment, the sweep gas includes the combination of dried product gas, taken from the dehydration membrane module, and a supplemental gas, which may be ambient air, or permeate gas from an air separation membrane, or waste gas from a PSA unit. An air ejector combines the streams, without the use of an additional compression step, and the combined gas is used as a sweep stream for the dehydration module. The invention also includes the method of selecting an optimum point at which the sweep gas is injected into the module.

Abstract: A water-proof air-permeable filter (1) includes: a resin film (2) having formed therein a plurality of through pores (21); and a treated layer (3) having hydrophobicity and oil repellency, and formed on at least one of both surfaces in the thickness direction of the resin film (2) such that the treated layer (3) has openings (31) at positions corresponding to the through pores (21). The through pores (21) each have a predetermined size larger than or equal to 0.01 ?m and smaller than or equal to 10 ?m, and are uniformly distributed such that a density of the through pores falls within specific limits included in a range from 10 to 1×108 pores/mm2.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a covering for placement on a surface, such as a wall on the inside of a house, for reduction or prevention of a singularity or a plurality of emissions, such as harmful emissions, released from the surface. The covering comprises a trapping agent and a carrier for retaining and supporting the trapping agent, such that the trapping agent can trap the singularity or plurality of emissions without being released from the carrier. The trapping agent is a substantially irreversible trapping agent independently selected from one or several of the group consisting of absorbing agents and adsorbing agents, such that the trapping agent is capable of fully or partly trapping the singularity or plurality of emissions substantially irreversibly by absorption or adsorption, or a combination of absorption and adsorption. The covering may further comprise a semi-permeable barrier. Methods for use and manufacturing of the covering are also disclosed.

Abstract: A proton conducting membrane comprising, as a main component, a ceramic structure in which an oxygen atom of a metal oxide is bonded through the oxygen atom with at least one group derived an oxygen acid selected from —B(O)3—, —S(?O)2(O)2—, —P(?O)(O)3—, —C(?O)(O)2—, and —N(O)3—, wherein the metal oxide and said at least one group derived from the oxygen acid share the oxygen atom, the proton conducting membrane being made by a sol-gel reaction of the oxygen acid or its precursor and a precursor of the metal oxide in order to obtain a sol-gel reaction product, followed by heating of the sol-gel reaction product at a temperature in a range of 100° C. to 600° C., the oxygen acid or its precursor being selected from a boric acid, a sulfuric acid, a phosphoric acid, a carbonic acid, a nitric acid, and precursors thereof. Thus, a novel proton conducting membrane is provided.

Abstract: There is described a method for the removal of gaseous contaminants from the housings of devices sensitive to the presence of such contaminants by means of nanostructured sorbers, wherein the sorber is in the form of a fiber containing an active material at its inside. Nanostructured sorbers and their manufacturing method are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides for various processes for recovering high purity gaseous hydrogen and high purity gaseous carbon dioxide from the gas stream produced using steam hydrocarbon reforming, especially steam methane reforming, utilizing a H2 pressure swing adsorption unit in combination with either a CO2 pressure swing adsorption unit in combination with a membrane separation unit or a CO2 pressure vacuum swing adsorption unit in combination with a membrane separation unit. The present invention further relates to a process for optimizing the recovery of carbon dioxide from waste gas streams produced during the hydrogen purification step of a steam hydrocarbon reforming/water gas shift reactor/H2 pressure swing adsorption unit utilizing either a CO2 pressure swing adsorption unit in combination with a membrane separation unit or a CO2 pressure vacuum swing adsorption unit in combination with a membrane separation unit.

Abstract: A process for the production of a carbon hollow fiber membrane comprising: (i) dissolving at least one cellulose ester in a solvent to form a solution; (ii) dry/wet spinning the solution to form hollow fibers; (iii) deesterifying said hollow fibers with a base or an acid in the presence of an alcohol; (iv) if necessary, drying said fibers; (v) carbonizing the fibers; (vi) assembling the carbonized fibers to form a carbon hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: A composition of and a method of making high performance crosslinked membranes are described. The membranes have a high resistance to plasticization by use of crosslinking. The preferred polymer material for the membrane is a polyimide polymer comprising covalently bonded ester crosslinks. The resultant membrane exhibits a high permeability of CO2 in combination with a high CO2/CH4selectivity. Another embodiment provides a method of making the membrane from a monesterified polymer followed by final crosslinking after the membrane is formed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gas separation membrane and a gas separation method in which at least one species of organic vapor is separated and recovered from an organic vapor mixture using the gas separation membrane. The gas separation membrane is made of an aromatic polyimide composed of a tetracarboxylic acid component consisting of an aromatic ring-containing tetracarboxylic acid and a diamine component comprising 10 to 90 mol % of a combination of (B1) 3,4?-diaminodiphenyl ether and (B2) 4,4?-diaminodiphenyl ether at a B1 to B2 molar ratio, B1/B2, ranging from 10/1 to 1/10, and 10 to 90 mol % of other aromatic diamine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated membrane/adsorbent process and system for removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas on a ship that houses natural gas purification equipment. Additional membrane units or adsorbent beds are used to reduce the amount of product gas that is lost in gas streams that are used to regenerate the adsorbent beds. These systems produce a product stream that meets the specifications of less than 50 parts per million carbon dioxide in natural gas for liquefaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus to measure permeation of a gas through a membrane. The membrane is mounted on a flange with two sealing areas. The region between the sealing areas defines an annular space. The annular space is swept with a gas in order to carry away any of the permeating gas which may leak through the sealing areas.

Abstract: One aspect of the present teachings includes a separation membrane arranged in a hollow case. A particular component concentration chamber and a particular component dilution chamber are arranged in series in the hollow case. The particular component concentration chamber is capable of increasing concentration of the particular component by allowing permeation of the particular gas through the separation membrane. The particular component dilution chamber is capable of increasing concentration of the particular component by not allowing permeation of the particular gas through the separation membrane. The particular component concentration chamber and the particular component dilution chamber are configured such that only a gas containing the particular component and permeated through the separation membrane or only a gas containing the particular component not permeated through the separation membrane in one of the chambers disposed on an upstream side (i.e.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to gas separation membranes and, more specifically, to polyimide gas separation membranes. In an embodiment, a gas separation membrane includes a porous substrate, a substantially continuous polyimide membrane layer, and one or more layers of boehmite nanoparticles disposed between the porous substrate and the polyimide membrane layer to form a bond-coat layer. The bond-coat layer is configured to improve the adhesion of the polyimide membrane layer to the porous substrate, and the polyimide membrane layer has a thickness approximately 100 nm or less.

Abstract: A hollow fiber element constituting a separation membrane module for separating an organic vapor is disclosed. At least one end part of a fiber bundle consisting of multiple hollow fiber membranes having a selective permeability is fixed and bound with a tube sheet formed by a cured material of an epoxy resin composition. Herein, a resin component of the epoxy resin composition contains an epoxy compound (A) represented by the following formula (1), an epoxy compound (B) represented by the following formula (2) and an aromatic amine compound (C), and wherein the epoxy compound (A) and the epoxy compound (B) are blended at a proportion in a range from 90:10 to 60:40 by weight; wherein R denotes alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric material includes: providing a polymeric matrix having at least one polymer and at least one porogen; and degrading the at least one porogen at a temperature T?1.1 Tg, where Tg is a glass transition temperature of the polymeric matrix. The degrading step includes exposing the polymeric matrix to thermal degradation, chemical degradation, electrical degradation and/or radiation degradation, wherein the polymeric material has a permeability at least 1.2 times a permeability of the polymeric matrix for a gas, and a selectivity of the polymeric material is at least 0.35 times a selectivity of the polymeric matrix for a gas pair. The method preferably provides gas separation membranes that exceed Robeson's upper bound relationship for at least one gas separation pair. Novel polymeric materials, gas separation membranes and fluid component separation methods are also described.

Abstract: A membrane for separation of gases, the membrane including a metal-organic phase and a polymeric phase, the metal-organic phase having porous crystalline metal compounds and ligands, the polymeric phase having a molecularly self assembling polymer.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to the production of a fabricated fiber having an asymmetric polymer network and having an immobilized liquid such as an ionic liquid within the pores of the polymer network. The process produces the fabricated fiber in a dry-wet spinning process using a homogenous dope solution, providing significant advantage over current fabrication methods for liquid-supporting polymers. The fabricated fibers may be effectively utilized for the separation of a chemical species from a mixture based on the selection of the polymer, the liquid, and the solvent utilized in the dope.

Abstract: To provide a moisture control module which has a function to reduce or increase moisture in a gas permitted to flow in a hollow fiber and which is substantially free from air leakage and easy to produce; a process for producing such a moisture control module; and an apparatus for producing such a moisture control module. A moisture control module comprising a tubular hollow fiber 1, a braid fiber 3 plaited into a braid to cover the exterior of the hollow fiber 1, and a pipe 5 inserted in an end of the hollow fiber 1, wherein as the hollow fiber 1 and the braid fiber 3 present in a region with a prescribed length from said end have been heated at a prescribed temperature from outside, the braid fiber 3 is fused, and at the same time, the hollow fiber 1 is fixed by heat shrinkage to the pipe 5.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a zeolite membrane composite satisfying both the treating amount and the separation performance at a practically sufficient level, which can be applied even in the presence of an organic material and can separate/concentrate an organic material-containing gas or liquid mixture and which is economic without requiring a high energy cost and is not limited in its application range; a production method thereof; and a separation or concentration method using the same. The present invention is an inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite, wherein the inorganic porous support contains a ceramic sintered body and the inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite has, as a zeolite membrane, a CHA-type zeolite crystal layer on the inorganic porous support surface.

Abstract: A CO2-facilitated transport membrane of excellent carbon dioxide permeability and CO2/H2 selectivity, which can be applied to a CO2 permeable membrane reactor, is stably provided. The CO2-facilitated transport membrane is formed such that a gel layer 1 obtained by adding cesium carbonate to a polyvinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid copolymer gel membrane is supported by a hydrophilic porous membrane 2. More preferably, a gel layer supported by a hydrophilic porous membrane 2 is coated with hydrophilic porous membranes 3 and 4.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a support system includes a multi-layer cover sheet with a number of layers. In certain embodiments, a source to move air inside and outside the multi-layer cover sheet can be provided. The source can include a source of positive pressure or negative pressure.

Abstract: Provided are a method for operating a gas separation device capable of performing gas separation with high separation capability and treatment amount in a small membrane area or in a small number of separation membrane modules, and a method for recovering a residual gas capable of performing more suitable detoxifying treatment or recycling by efficiently separating and recovering a mixed gas remaining in a cylinder, using the operating method. Two or more separation membrane modules are connected with each other in parallel.

Abstract: Composite structures are described that have a porous anodic oxide layer such as, for example, a porous anodic aluminum oxide layer. In one aspect, the present invention includes a composite gas separation module having a porous metal substrate; a porous anodic aluminum oxide layer, wherein the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer overlies the porous metal substrate; and a dense gas-selective membrane, wherein the dense gas-selective membrane overlies the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer. A composite filter is described having a porous non-aluminum metal substrate; and a porous anodic aluminum oxide layer, wherein the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer defines pores extending through the porous anodic aluminum oxide layer. Methods for fabricating composite gas separation modules and composite filters and methods for selectively separating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas-containing gaseous stream are also described.

Abstract: There is provided herein a dryer polymer substance including a hetero-phase polymer composition including two or more polymers wherein at least one of the two or more polymers include sulfonic groups, wherein the substance is adapted to pervaporate a fluid. The fluid may include water, water vapor or both. There is also provided herein a process for the preparation of a dryer polymer substance adapted to pervaporate a fluid (such as water, water vapor or both) the process includes mixing two or more polymers, wherein at least one of the two or more polymers may include groups which are adapted to be sulfonated, to produce a hetero-phase polymer composition and processing the polymer blend into a desired form.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membranes including hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes with high permeances for air separations and a method of making these membranes. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes have O2 permeance higher than 300 GPU and O2/N2 selectivity higher than 3 at 60° C. under 308 kPa for O2/N2 separation. The new polyimide hollow fiber membranes also have CO2 permeance higher than 1000 GPU and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 higher than 20 at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation.

Abstract: There is provided a zeolite separation membrane-provided article having gaps or pores larger than pores inherent to zeolite crystals and controlled within an appropriate range and being capable of achieving both high permeability and high separability for components with small difference in adsorption properties or a component having a smaller molecular diameter than the diameter of the pores, a method for producing the same, a method for separating mixed fluids, and a device for separating mixed fluids. The zeolite separation membrane-provided article is provided with a zeolite membrane having an N2 gas permeation speed at room temperature of 1.0×10?6 mol·m?2·s?1·Pa?1 or more and a permeation speed ratio of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene/N2 at room temperature of 0.17 or more and being free from dyeing caused by the impregnation with Rhodamine B.

Abstract: A membrane selectively permeable to light gases comprises a membrane body formed by a first plate and a second plate. The second plate comprises a thin layer that is selectively gas-permeable. In the region of windows, this layer is exposed. There, support is provided by a porous bottom wall in the first plate or by narrow bores in the second plate. A heating device causes a radiation heating of the windows.

Abstract: Biogas is converted to a vehicle fuel equivalent to compressed natural gas high in methane in a simple, low cost process involving steps of refrigeration, non-regenerative activated carbon purification and carbon dioxide removal using low-pressure membrane technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane for gas separation made of a soluble aromatic polyimide, wherein an orientation index is 1.3 or less, a separation coefficient ?(P?O2/P?N2) as a permeation rate ratio of oxygen gas/nitrogen gas at 40° C. is 5.3 or more, and a tensile fracture elongation is 15% or more.

Abstract: A gas purification method of the present invention uses a carbon membrane having a molecular sieving action to purify at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydride gas, a hydrogen halide gas, and a halogen gas, each gas containing an impurity at 10 ppm or less. The present invention can be used for a recovery unit that recoveries a used gas to reuse it as an ultrapure semiconductor material gas, and a unit or equipment that produces or charges an ultrapure semiconductor material gas.

Abstract: The gas separation membrane of the present invention provides a gas separation membrane that exhibits superior gas permeability and separation selectivity and plasticity to the extent that it can endure bending testing and has little pinholes and a method for producing the gas separation membrane. Through the gas separation membrane of the present invention, it is possible to provide a superior gas separation method, a gas separation membrane module, and a gas separation and purification apparatus including the gas separation membrane module. Through the gas separation membrane of the present invention, it is possible to provide a superior gas separation method, a gas separation membrane module, and a gas separation apparatus including the gas separation membrane module.

Abstract: A multi-layer filter, a gas turbine including a multi-layer filter, and a process of filtering are disclosed. The multi-layer filter includes a nano-fiber layer positioned to receive an airflow, a coalescing base medium layer, and a membrane layer. The coalescing base medium and the membrane layer are positioned for the airflow to travel through the nano-fiber layer and the coalescing base medium layer, then through the membrane layer. The gas turbine includes an inlet and the multi-layer filter in a filter portion.

Abstract: A method of separating a first gas component from a feed gas mixture comprising the first gas component and a second gas component using a SAPO-34 molecular sieve membrane. Periodically removing unwanted components that are absorbed on the membrane may be accomplished by passing a regeneration gas stream through the membrane.

Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer pi-bond-philic filler composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and a pi-bond-philic filler, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer pi-bond-philic filler composite. The instant invention also generally provides a process of separating a pi-bond-philic gas from a separable gas mixture comprising the pi-bond-philic gas.

Abstract: A method of making a crosslinked polyimide membrane is described. A monoesterified membrane is formed from a monoesterified polyimide polymer. The monoesterified membrane is subjected to transesterification conditions to form a crosslinked membrane. The monoesterified membrane is incorporated with an organic titanate catalyst before or after formation of the monoesterified membrane. A crosslinked polyimide membrane made using the aforementioned method and a method of using the membrane to separate fluids in a fluid mixture, such as methane and carbon dioxide, are also disclosed.