Carbon Dioxide Or Carbon Monoxide Permeates Barrier Patents (Class 95/51)
  • Publication number: 20140130416
    Abstract: Imidazole-containing polymer membranes are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the membranes include capturing and reducing volatile compounds from gas streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
    Inventors: Jason E. Bara, Matthew S. Shannon
  • Publication number: 20140130668
    Abstract: A gas separation composite membrane, containing a gas-permeable supporting layer and a gas separating layer containing a crosslinked polyimide resin over the gas-permeable supporting layer, in which the crosslinked polyimide resin has structure in which a polyimide compound is crosslinked through a specific crosslinking chain, the specific crosslinking chain has at least one kind of linking group selected from the group consisting of —NRaC(?O)—, —NRbC(?O)O—, —CH2OCH2—, —CH2SCH2—, —OC(?O)O—, —C(?O)O?N+(Rc)3—, —SO3?N+(Rd)3— and —PO3?N+(Re)3—, and Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd and Re each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi SANO, Tomonori ISHINO, Ichirou NAGATA, Kentaro SHIRATSUCHI, Shigehide ITOU, Kenichi ISHIZUKA, Takeshi UMEHARA
  • Publication number: 20140130669
    Abstract: A gas separation composite membrane, containing a gas-permeable supporting layer and a gas separating layer containing a crosslinked polyimide resin over the gas-permeable supporting layer, in which the crosslinked polyimide resin has structure in which a polyimide compound is crosslinked and linked, and the polyimide compound is a copolymer having at least an imide group-containing monomer component and a monomer component having a specific polar group; and a module, a gas separation apparatus and a gas separation method using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi SANO, Ichirou NAGATA, Tomonori ISHINO, Kentaro SHIRATSUCHI, Shigehide ITOU, Kenichi ISHIZUKA, Takeshi UMEHARA
  • Patent number: 8721774
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas separation composite membrane comprising a polyamidoamine dendrimer (A) having a specific group, a vinyl alcohol-based polymer (B) containing 0.5 to 5 mol % of carboxyl groups, and a crosslinking agent (C) having an azetidinium group, wherein the mass ratio (A)/(C) of the polyamidoamine dendrimer (A) to the crosslinking agent (C) having an azetidinium group is 20/80 to 65/35, and the mass ratio (B)/(C) of the vinyl alcohol-based polymer (B) to the crosslinking agent (C) having an azetidinium group is 20/80 to 80/20. Thus, a gas separation composite membrane capable of separating a specific type of gas from a mixed gas containing water vapor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth
    Inventors: Shushi Asano, Yoshiki Nobuto, Naoki Fujiwara, Shuhong Duan, Shingo Kazama
  • Patent number: 8715392
    Abstract: Disclosed are membranes and methods for making the same, which membranes provide improved permeability, stability, and cost-effective manufacturability, for separating CO2 from gas streams such as flue gas streams. High CO2 permeation flux is achieved by immobilizing an ultra-thin, optionally catalyzed fluid layer onto a meso-porous modification layer on a thin, porous inorganic substrate such as a porous metallic substrate. The CO2-selective liquid fluid blocks non-selective pores, and allows for selective absorption of CO2 from gas mixtures such as flue gas mixtures and subsequent transport to the permeation side of the membrane. Carbon dioxide permeance levels are in the order of 1.0×10?6 mol/(m2sPa) or better. Methods for making such membranes allow commercial scale membrane manufacturing at highly cost-effective rates when compared to conventional commercial-scale CO2 separation processes and equipment for the same and such membranes are operable on an industrial use scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 8715393
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream, comprising placing the gas stream in contact with a resin, wetting the resin with water, collecting water vapor and carbon dioxide from the resin, and separating the carbon dioxide from the water vapor. The resin may be placed in a chamber or a plurality of chambers connected in series wherein the first chamber contains resin that was first contacted by the gas, and each successive chamber contains resin which has been wetted and carbon dioxide collected from for a greater period of time than the previous chamber, and so on, until the last chamber. Secondary sorbents may be employed to further separate the carbon dioxide from the water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Klaus S. Lackner, Ed Leon-Guerrero, Ursula Ginster, Tymothy Catterson, Karl Madison, Ryuhei Ishikawa, George W. Grimm, Mark Malcomson, Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 8709215
    Abstract: A process comprising receiving a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising carbon dioxide, separating the hydrocarbon feed stream into a light hydrocarbon stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream, separating the light hydrocarbon stream into a carbon dioxide-rich stream and a carbon dioxide-lean stream, and feeding the carbon dioxide-lean stream into a hydrocarbon sweetening process, thereby increasing the processing capacity of the hydrocarbon sweetening process compared to the processing capacity of the hydrocarbon sweetening process when fed the hydrocarbon feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Pilot Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Prim
  • Patent number: 8709133
    Abstract: The invention concerns carbon molecular sieve membranes (“CMS membranes”), and more particularly the use of such membranes in gas separation. In particular, the present disclosure concerns an advantageous method for producing CMS membranes with desired selectivity and permeability properties. By controlling and selecting the oxygen concentration in the pyrolysis atmosphere used to produce CMS membranes, membrane selectivity and permeability can be adjusted. Additionally, oxygen concentration can be used in conjunction with pyrolysis temperature to further produce tuned or optimized CMS membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Mayumi Kiyono, Paul Jason Williams, William John Koros
  • Patent number: 8702844
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to recovery of carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide from a gas mixture. Separating of the carbon dioxide, for example, from the gas mixture utilizes a liquid sorbent for the carbon dioxide. The liquid sorbent contacts the gas mixture for transfer of the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture to the liquid sorbent. Contacting of the sorbent with the gas mixture and/or desorption of the carbon dioxide from the liquid sorbent utilize hollow-fiber contactors that have permeable walls and incorporate particles distinct from a remainder of the walls to influence wetting properties of the contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Randall L. Heald, Clint P. Aichele, Imona C. Omole, George F. Schuette, Sumod Kalakkunnath
  • Publication number: 20140102297
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for separating CO2 from mixed gases. A stream of mixed gases passes one side of a facilitated transport membrane, while a sweep fluid, such as steam, passes the other side of the membrane, removing the CO2. The method is especially useful in the removal of CO2 from gases produced by internal combustion engines on mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Esam Zaki HAMAD, Ahmed A. Bahamdan, Feras Hamad, Garba Oloriegbe Yahaya, Wajdi Issam Al-sadat
  • Publication number: 20140102298
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: David J. HASSE, Sudhir S. KULKARNI, Edgar S. SANDERS, JR., Jean-Pierre TRANIER, Paul TERRIEN
  • Patent number: 8685149
    Abstract: A breather 2 on a top of a tank body 1 is opened through a carbon dioxide permeable membrane 3 to an atmospheric air so as to take an inert gas containing plenty of carbon dioxide permeated through the membrane 3 into the tank body 1 by a negative pressure due to reduction of a fuel F in the tank body 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Uchida
  • Patent number: 8685143
    Abstract: A method of making a supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane. In this method a porous support, which is preferably pretreated, is contacted with a molecular sieve synthesis mixture under hydrothermal synthesis conditions. The contacting step is conducted for a shortened crystallization time period. The resulting coated porous support is calcined to yield the supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane having particularly good gas separation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Shell Oil Company, The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventors: Moises Abraham Carreon, Zaida Diaz, John Lucien Falconer, Hans Heinrich Funke, Shiguang Li, Brendan Dermot Murray, Richard Daniel Noble, Paul Jason Williams
  • Patent number: 8685250
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for remineralizing desalinated water. The desalination system includes, but is not limited to, a conventional reverse osmosis membrane system, forward osmosis membrane system, electro dialysis system, Multi Stage Flash (MSF) system, and Multi Effect Distillation (MED) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Chul Choi, Chunwoo Lee, Pranay Mane
  • Patent number: 8679227
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making improved zeolite and crystalline silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) membranes, in particular SAPO-34 membranes, on a porous support through improved removal of the organic structure-directing templating agent. A calcining step is performed in an oxygen free atmosphere, such as under a vacuum or inert gas, to remove the organic templating agent. By removing the templating agent in the absence of oxygen, the calcination step can remove a greater amount of the templating agent than comparable template removal steps conducted in the presence of oxygen and the calcination step can be conducted at significantly lower temperatures. The membranes of the present invention provide increased permeance while maintaining comparable selectivity for gas separations, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) separations and separations at high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: John L. Falconer, Richard D. Noble, Begum Tokay, Yanfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8673057
    Abstract: DDR nanocrystals of uniform size and structure were synthesized using hydrothermal secondary growth and then used to make DDR zeolite membranes and for any other use where uniform, small DDR zeolite crystals are beneficial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhengzhi Zhou, Sankar Nair
  • Patent number: 8668764
    Abstract: MOF nanocrystals having a narrow size distribution, as well as methods of making and using same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, Sankar Nair, David Sholl, Cantwell Carson
  • Publication number: 20140060324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane including a reaction product of an epoxy-functional organopolysiloxane and an amino-functional curing agent, wherein the organopolysiloxane has an average of at least two silicon-bonded epoxy-substituted organic groups per molecule and the curing agent has an average of at least two nitrogen-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule. The invention further relates to a method of separating gas components in a feed gas mixture by use of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchan Ahn, Christopher Wong, James S. Hrabal
  • Patent number: 8663364
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Étude et l'Éxploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: David J. Hasse, Sudhir S. Kulkarni, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr., Jean-Pierre Tranier, Paul Terrien
  • Patent number: 8663365
    Abstract: A method for recovering carbon dioxide from acidified seawater using a membrane contactor and passing seawater with a pH less than or equal to 6 over the outside of a hollow fiber membrane tube while applying vacuum or a hydrogen sweep gas to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane tube, wherein up to 92% of the re-equilibrated [CO2]T is removed from the natural seawater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Heather D. Willauer, John Barile, Felice DiMascio, Dennis R Hardy, Frederick Williams
  • Patent number: 8663372
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming microporous membranes. More specifically, vapor induced phase separation techniques are used for forming multizone microporous membranes having improved material throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ilyess H. Romdhane, Mikhail S. Mezhirov
  • Publication number: 20140033918
    Abstract: The invention describes a polymeric material comprising repeating units of Formulae I-III and methods of preparation. Novel polymeric materials, gas separation membranes and fluid component separation methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Shiying Zheng, Jeffrey Raymond Quay
  • Publication number: 20140020557
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for generating nitrogen are provided. In one example, a method comprises the steps of contacting at least a portion of a flue gas stream with a CO2/N2 separation membrane at conditions effective to form a N2-rich retentate stream and a CO2-rich permeate stream. Liquid hydrocarbons are covered with the N2-rich retentate stream to form a blanket of nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Chunqing Liu, Mark E. Schott, David W. Greer
  • Patent number: 8628601
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of carbon dioxide from a gas mixture that includes pretreating a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide, water vapor, and one or more light gases in a pretreating system to form a cooled gas mixture, fractionating the cooled gas mixture to recover a bottoms fraction comprising carbon dioxide and an overheads fraction comprising carbon dioxide and the light gases, passing the overheads fraction over a membrane selective to carbon dioxide to separate a carbon dioxide permeate from a residue gas comprising the light gases, recycling the carbon dioxide permeate to the pretreating system, and recovering at least a portion of the bottoms fraction as a purified carbon dioxide product stream is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Loren E Gearhart, Sanjiv N Patel, David R Koch
  • Patent number: 8623784
    Abstract: Nanocomposite adsorbent materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. As an example, a polyaniline-graphite nanoplatelet nanocomposite may be used to adsorb carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Indian Institute of Technology Madras
    Inventors: Sundara Ramaprabhu, Ashish Kumar Mishra
  • Publication number: 20140000454
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to carbon molecular sieve membranes (CMSM) and their associated fabrication processes, and more particularly to CMSM that maintain high gas selectivities without losing productivity. Methods for enriching a mixture of gases in one gas via the use of the CMS membranes, and gas enrichment devices using the same, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Rachana Singh, William John Koros
  • Patent number: 8617292
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: David J. Hasse, Sudhir S. Kulkarni, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr., Jean-Pierre Tranier, Paul Terrien
  • Patent number: 8617291
    Abstract: A method of preparing a supported gas separation membrane, comprising: preparing crystalline seeds from a synthesis mixture comprising an aluminum source, a phosphorous source, a silicon source, at least one organic templating agent and water; applying the seeds to a porous support to produce a seeded porous support; contacting the seeded porous support with a synthesis gel under hydrothermal synthesis conditions to produce a coated porous support; and calcining the coated porous support is described. A supported gas separation membrane made by this method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Brendan Dermot Murray, Paul Jason Williams
  • Patent number: 8617297
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Renaissance Energy Research Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Okada, Masaaki Teramoto, Reza Yegani, Hideto Matsuyama, Keiko Shimada, Kaori Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20130333354
    Abstract: A method and system are described for on-board treatment of an exhaust stream containing CO2 emitted by a hydrocarbon-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) used to power a vehicle in order to reduce the amount of CO2 discharged into the atmosphere which include: a. a first waste heat recovery zone on board the vehicle for receiving the high temperature exhaust gas stream, at least one heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving the hot exhaust gas stream from the ICE for passage in heat exchange relation and a discharge outlet for discharging the exhaust stream at a lower temperature, the heat recovery zone further including at least one heat recovery device for converting the waste heat from the exhaust gas to electrical and/or mechanical energy; b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Esam Zaki Hamad
  • Publication number: 20130319231
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the removal of acid gases from gas streams. The system comprises an integrated membrane-based and liquid solvent-based system for the capture of acid gases. The invention also relates to methods of acid gas capture from gas streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Aqil Jamal, Raghubir P. Gupta, Lora Toy, Luke Coleman
  • Publication number: 20130319230
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a carbon-dioxide (“CO2”) sequestration system comprising a CO2 source, a process-water source, a membrane module, and a sequestration duct. The membrane module comprises a first section, a second section, and a membrane. The first section can be configured to receive gaseous CO2 at a first pressure from the CO2 source. The second section can be configured to receive process-water at a second pressure from the process-water source, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure. The membrane can be positioned between the first section and the second section and can comprise a plurality of apertures configured such that the gaseous CO2 passes through the plurality of apertures and dissolves into the process-water to form a process-water-CO2-soluution. The sequestration duct can be in fluid communication with the second section and configured to transport the process-water-CO2 solution to a sequestration site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SOUTHERN COMPANY
    Inventor: Dhansukhbhai V. Patel
  • Publication number: 20130312604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel film, membrane or powder media made from fluoropolymers, especially PVDF-based and ETFE-based polymers, which are suitable for separating gases, especially carbon dioxide, from a gas mixture. The novel film has good selectivity, high permeance, good mechanical properties, and exhibits a high resistance to oxidant and acid attack. The separation film is especially useful in harsh and corrosive environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Amin-Sanayei, Caiping Lin, Cedric Airaud, John Schmidhauser, Scott R. Gaboury
  • Publication number: 20130305921
    Abstract: The invention concerns carbon molecular sieve membranes (“CMS membranes”), and more particularly the use of such membranes in gas separation. In particular, the present disclosure concerns an advantageous method for producing CMS membranes with desired selectivity and permeability properties. By controlling and selecting the oxygen concentration in the pyrolysis atmosphere used to produce CMS membranes, membrane selectivity and permeability can be adjusted. Additionally, oxygen concentration can be used in conjunction with pyrolysis temperature to further produce tuned or optimized CMS membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Mayumi Kiyono, Paul Jason Williams, William John Koros
  • Patent number: 8568517
    Abstract: A gas separation device comprising a porous support structure comprising polymeric hollow fibers, and an inorganic mesoporous membrane disposed on the porous support structure is disclosed. The inorganic mesoporous membrane is uniform and free of defects. Further, the inorganic mesoporous membrane comprises a network of interconnected three-dimensional pores that interconnect with the porous support structure. The gas permeances of the inorganic mesoporous membrane is substantially higher than the gas permeances of the polymeric hollow fibers. A method of fabricating the gas separation device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Kwang-Suk Jang, Christopher Jones, William Koros, Justin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130269520
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a reactive functional group-modified molecularly self-assembling material; method of making the reactive functional group-modified molecularly self-assembling material; manufactured article comprising the reactive functional group-modified molecularly self-assembling material; and a method of shaping the reactive functional group-modified molecularly self-assembling material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: William J. Harris, Pushkala Krishnamurthy, Scott T. Matteucci
  • Patent number: 8557022
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filled polymeric membrane includes a first step of preparing a filler suspension having a solvent for a glassy polymer and nanometer-sized particles. The nanometer-sized particles in the filler suspension are aggregated in aggregates having an average aggregate size in the range between 50 nm and smaller than 200 nm. In a following step, the glassy polymer is added to the filler suspension to obtain a polymer suspension. Next, the glassy polymer is dissolved in the polymer suspension. In a next step, the polymer suspension is cast on a substrate, followed by a step of removing the solvent. A filled polymeric membrane includes aggregates of nanometer-sized filler particles. The membrane is used in pervaporation and nanofiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Kristien De Sitter, Steven Mullens, Lieven Gevers
  • Publication number: 20130255490
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a crosslinked silane-modified molecularly self-assembling material, cured manufactured article comprising the crosslinked silane-modified molecularly self-assembling material, semipermeable membrane comprising the crosslinked silane-modified molecularly self-assembling material, method of using the semipermeable membrane to separate an acid gas from a separable gas mixture comprising the acid gas and a permeation-resistant gas, and method of preparing the cured manufactured article from a curable manufactured article comprising a shaped reactive silane-modified molecularly self-assembling material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Matteucci, William J. Harris, Pushkala Krishnamurthy
  • Publication number: 20130255483
    Abstract: A fast gas is recovered from a feed gas containing a fast gas and at least one slow gas using a gas separation membrane. A controller may control a control valve associated with a partial recycle of a permeate gas from the membrane for combining with the feed gas. A controller may control a control valve associated with the backpressure of a residue gas from the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Edgar S. SANDERS, JR., Sarang Gadre, Michael D. Bennett, Ian R. Roman, David J. Hassee, Indrasts Mondal
  • Patent number: 8545606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating molecular sieve particles for use in a mixed matrix membrane useful in, for example, gas separations. Membranes employing treated molecular sieve particles may exhibit enhanced permeabilities and selectivities in regard to, for example, the separation of carbon dioxide and methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: William John Koros, Jason Keith Ward
  • Patent number: 8540800
    Abstract: The present invention discloses microporous UZM-5 zeolite membranes, methods for making the same, and methods of separating gases, vapors, and liquids using the same. The small-pore microporous UZM-5 zeolite membrane is prepared by two different methods, including in-situ crystallization of one or more layers of UZM-5 zeolite crystals on a porous membrane support, and a seeding method by in-situ crystallization of a continuous second layer of UZM-5 zeolite crystals on a seed layer of UZM-5 zeolite crystals supported on a porous membrane support. The membranes in the form of disks, tubes, or hollow fibers have superior thermal and chemical stability, good erosion resistance, high CO2 plasticization resistance, and significantly improved selectivity over polymer membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Jaime G. Moscoso, Stephen T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8535413
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is taught for the formation of ethanol from a fermentation medium in the absence of an ethanol concentration distillation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bryan, Oluwasijibomi Okeowo
  • Patent number: 8535421
    Abstract: A blood storage system. The system has a collection bag for red blood cells; an oxygen/carbon dioxide depletion device; a storage bag for red blood cells; and tubing connecting the collection bag to the depletion device and the depletion device to the storage bag. The depletion device includes a receptacle of a solid material having an inlet and an outlet adapted to receiving and expelling a flushing gas; a plurality of hollow fibers or gas-permeable films extending within the receptacle from an entrance to an exit thereof. The hollow fibers or gas-permeable films are adapted to receiving and conveying red blood cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: New Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Yoshida, Paul J. Vernucci
  • Patent number: 8512442
    Abstract: A composite membrane for separating a gas from a mixed gas stream includes a fibrous non-woven substrate including consolidated synthetic thermoplastic fibers, and coextensively disposed on a surface of the fibrous non-woven substrate a continuous polysulfide rubber film adhered thereto. A method of separating a gas component from a mixed gas stream includes 1) contacting a surface of the above-described composite membrane with the mixed gas stream under conditions such that a product gas enriched in the gas component diffuses through the composite membrane; and 2) collecting the product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Aaron Oken
  • Patent number: 8506677
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for carbon dioxide separation. The system includes a conducting membrane having two phases. The first phase is a solid oxide porous substrate. The second phase is molten carbonate. The second phase is positioned within the solid oxide porous substrate of the first phase. The system also includes a H2 and CO2 gas input stream separated from a CH4 gas input stream by the conducting membrane. The CO2 is removed from the H2 and CO2 gas input stream as it contacts the membrane resulting in a H2 gas output stream from the H2 and CO2 gas input stream and a CO and H2 gas output stream from the CH4 gas input stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventor: Kevin Huang
  • Patent number: 8506676
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system is provided. The waste heat recovery system includes a gas separation apparatus that includes a chamber and at least one membrane positioned within the chamber. The gas separation apparatus is configured to produce a retentate that includes at least a combustible gas and a permeate that includes at least a waste gas, wherein the waste gas includes at least a noncombustible gas. Moreover, the waste heat recovery system includes a burner that is coupled to the gas separation apparatus, wherein the burner is configured to receive the permeate and to combust the permeate such that heat is generated from the permeate. Further, a heat recovery steam generator is coupled to the burner and configured to recover heat generated by the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Warren Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130192460
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for perforated graphene monolayers and membranes containing perforated graphene monolayers. An example membrane may include a graphene monolayer having a plurality of discrete pores that may be chemically perforated into the graphene monolayer. The discrete pores may be of substantially uniform pore size. The pore size may be characterized by one or more carbon vacancy defects in the graphene monolayer. The graphene monolayer may have substantially uniform pore sizes throughout. In some examples, the membrane may include a permeable substrate that contacts the graphene monolayer and which may support the graphene monolayer. Such perforated graphene monolayers, and membranes comprising such perforated graphene monolayers may exhibit improved properties compared to conventional polymeric membranes for gas separations, e.g., greater selectivity, greater gas permeation rates, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Empire Technology Development, LLC
    Inventors: Seth A. Miller, Gary L. Duerksen
  • Publication number: 20130192461
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a membrane that may incorporate a graphene layer perforated by a plurality of nanoscale pores. The membrane may also include a gas sorbent that may be configured to contact a surface of the graphene layer. The gas sorbent may be configured to direct at least one gas adsorbed at the gas sorbent into the nanoscale pores. The nanoscale pores may have a diameter that selectively facilitates passage of a first gas compared to a second gas to separate the first gas from a fluid mixture of the two gases. The gas sorbent may increase the surface concentration of the first gas at the graphene layer. Such membranes may exhibit improved properties compared to conventional graphene and polymeric membranes for gas separations, e.g., greater selectivity, greater gas permeation rates, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Empire Technology Development, LLC
    Inventors: Seth A. Miller, Gary L. Duerksen
  • Patent number: 8486179
    Abstract: The invention concerns carbon molecular sieve membranes (“CMS membranes”), and more particularly the use of such membranes in gas separation. In particular, the present disclosure concerns an advantageous method for producing CMS membranes with desired selectivity and permeability properties. By controlling and selecting the oxygen concentration in the pyrolysis atmosphere used to produce CMS membranes, membrane selectivity and permeability can be adjusted. Additionally, oxygen concentration can be used in conjunction with pyrolysis temperature to further produce tuned or optimized CMS membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Mayumi Kiyono, Paul Jason Williams, William John Koros
  • Patent number: 8480790
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker