Membrane Having Ring Containing Organic Compound Patents (Class 96/14)
  • Patent number: 7811359
    Abstract: A membrane and method for separating carbon dioxide from a mixture of gases, where the membrane includes expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and polysiloxane. The membrane is highly stable and can separate carbon dioxide at high flux in harsh environments and high temperatures, such as exhaust gases from power plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kunj Tandon, Umakant Rapol, Ullash Kumar Barik, Rajappan Vetrivel
  • Patent number: 7806962
    Abstract: The present invention is for novel high performance cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes and the use of such membranes for separations such as for CO2/CH4, H2/CH4 and propylene/propane separations. More specifically, the invention involves the preparation of cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The cross-linkable MMMs were prepared by incorporating microporous molecular sieves or soluble high surface area microporous polymers (PIMs) as dispersed microporous fillers into a continuous cross-linkable polymer matrix. The cross-linked MMMs were prepared by UV-cross-linking the cross-linkable MMMs containing cross-linkable polymer matrix such as BP-55 polyimide. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrated that both types of MMMs exhibited higher performance for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations than those of the corresponding cross-linkable and cross-linked pure polymer matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Jeffrey J. Chiou, Stephen T. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20100242723
    Abstract: The present invention discloses blend polymer membranes comprising thermally rearranged polymers derived from aromatic polyimides containing ortho-positioned functional groups and methods for making and using these blend polymer membranes. The blend polymer membranes described in the current invention are prepared by heat treatment of blend polymer membranes comprising aromatic polyimides containing ortho-positioned functional groups such as —OH or —SH groups. In some instances, an additional crosslinking step is performed to improve the selectivity of the membrane. These blend polymer membranes have improved flexibility, reduced cost, improved processability, and enhanced selectivity and/or permeability compared to the comparable polymer membranes that comprise a single polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Man-Wing Tang
  • Patent number: 7785397
    Abstract: In order to synthesize semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) with molecular sieve characteristics, polyetherimide/bismaleimide (PEI/BMI) chromophore composites were made through sol-gel technique. A tunable and compatible chemical structure with fine morphology was obtained through in situ controlled sol-gel polymerization, crosslinking, chemical modification and membrane fabrication. The novel semi-IPN, synthesized and assembled by using ethanol as polar protic modifier and pore former, had a superior structure and morphology suitable for making gas separation membranes. These semi-IPN membranes gave fifteen times higher gas flux without significant decrease in their gas permselectivity than membranes prepared from pure PEL The chemical structures of these novel semi-IPNs were characterized by using FTIR, XPS and SEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Ashwani Kumar, Jamal Kurdi
  • Patent number: 7771518
    Abstract: An asymmetric hollow-fiber gas separation membrane is made of a soluble aromatic polyimide that is composed of a specific repeating unit. The tetracarboxylic acid component of the unit has a diphenylhexafluoropropane structure and a biphenyl structure. The diamine component of the unit essentially contains diaminobenzoic acids and any of diaminodibenzothiophenes, diaminodibenzothiophene=5,5-dioxides, diaminothioxanthene-10,10-diones, and diaminothioxanthene-9,10,10-triones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimune Yoshinaga, Kenji Fukunaga, Yutaka Kanetsuki, Hiroshi Uchida, Minoru Shigemura, Nozomu Tanihara
  • Patent number: 7771521
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polyimide-based hybrid material which is industrially and advantageously utilized because of having better gas permeability, electric characteristics, heat resistance, mechanical strength, and the like as compared with the conventional polyimide-based hybrid materials, while keeping chemical resistance, forming characteristics (process characteristics), and the like inherently possessed by polyimide. Provided is a hyperbranched polyimide-based hybrid material constituted of an organic-inorganic polymer hybrid, wherein the organic-inorganic polymer hybrid has a hyperbranched polyimide moiety and an inorganic oxide moiety which are combining each other via covalent bond and constituting a composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: National University Corporation Nagoya Institute of Technology, Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Yamada, Tomoyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7758751
    Abstract: The present invention is for high performance UV-cross-linked membranes from polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) and the use of such membranes for separations. More specifically, the invention involves the methods of making UV-cross-linked membranes from PIMs. These membranes were prepared by cross-linking the UV-cross-linkable membranes from PIMs by exposure to UV-radiation. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrate that the UV-cross-linked membranes from PIMs exhibit CO2/CH4 performance well above the Robeson's polymer upper bound trade-off curve for CO2/CH4 separation. They have more than doubled selectivity for CO2/CH4 and extremely high permeability of CO2 compared to the original UV-cross-linkable membranes from PIMs. These membranes also show excellent separation performance for CO2/N2, H2/CH4, O2/N2, and propylene/propane separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Stephen T. Wilson, David A. Lesch
  • Patent number: 7753991
    Abstract: A water transport assembly, is provided including a housing having a first chamber therein, which is accessible through an opening in the housing. The housing additionally includes a sample inlet port and a sample outlet port, both of which are in fluid communication with the first chamber. A flat ion exchange membrane is attached to the housing in a plane over the opening in the housing, to seal the opening in a vapor tight seal. Water will pass through the membrane based upon the vapor pressure on each side of the membrane, to either dry or humidify sample passing through the first chamber. When the flat ion exchange membrane is a flat, thin ion exchange membrane it is preferable that the thin ion exchange membrane have a thickness of between about 0.1 and about 3.0 mils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kertzman Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Kertzman
  • Publication number: 20100132559
    Abstract: A permselective material has a polymer having an organosiloxane skeleton and containing a dispersed solid additive. When oxygen and nitrogen are passed through a membrane having the permselective material, the relation between the permeability coefficients [cm3·cm·sec?1·cm?2·cmHg?1] of oxygen and nitrogen at a temperature of 23±2° C. under a pressure difference of 1.05 atm to 1.20 atm through the membrane is expressed by Formula (1): 0.94 ? P ? ( O 2 ) P ? ( N 2 ) < 1 ( 1 ) where P(O2) denotes the permeability coefficient of oxygen, while P(N2) denotes the permeability coefficient of nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicants: SHIN-ETSU POLYMER CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATION, SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Ishida, Katsunori Iwase, Akira Yamamoto, Masahiko Minemura
  • Publication number: 20100108607
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for water filtration comprising contacting a water stream with a membrane comprising a polysulfone having structural units of Formula I wherein X is OH, NR1R2, or OR3; R1 and R2 are independently at each occurrence hydrogen, a C1-C5000 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, a polypeptide, a combination thereof, or R1 and R2 taken together form a 5- or 6-membered aliphatic ring or a 5-membered aromatic ring; R3 is a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; B? and C? are independently at each occurrence a nitro group, C1-C20 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; and q and r are independently at each occurrence 0 to 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary William Yeager, Liming Yu, Daniel Steiger, Yanshi Zhang
  • Patent number: 7708810
    Abstract: A gas permeable, carbon based, nanocomposite membrane comprises a nanoporous carbon matrix comprising a pyrolyzed polymer, and a plurality of nanoparticles of carbon or an inorganic compound disposed in the matrix. The matrix is prepared by pyrolyzing a polymer, and nanoparticles of the particulate material are disposed in the polymer prior to pyrolysis. The particles may be disposed in a precursor of the polymer, which precursor is subsequently polymerized, or in the polymer itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Henry C. Foley, Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan, Anna R. Merritt
  • Patent number: 7708811
    Abstract: A degassing apparatus is provided that accomplishes the connecting of a degassing element and a connecting member and/or the joining of a vacuum (reduced-pressure) chamber and the connecting member without using a fastening structure screwed together with the connecting member. A degassing apparatus includes: a reduced-pressure chamber having a through port for flowing a degassing target liquid therethrough; a degassing element, accommodated in the chamber, for passing the liquid therethrough; and a tubular connecting member joined to the chamber at the through port. The degassing element includes a gas-permeable tube, for passing the liquid therethrough, being covered with a joint piece at an end portion of the gas-permeable tube. The degassing element is fixed to the chamber by heat sealing the connecting member and the joint piece together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Hajime Ooya
  • Patent number: 7699911
    Abstract: Ozone resistant O2/N2 gas separation membranes comprise a polymer membrane and an ozone reacting component, such as an antioxidant. The antioxidant may be included in the support layer of a composite membrane or included in the entire structure of an asymmetric membrane. The antioxidants in the separation membrane reduce oxidation and deterioration of the actual separation layer of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Shaojun J. Zhou, Stephen F. Yates
  • Patent number: 7686867
    Abstract: A degasifier is provided in which the deterioration in sealing property (deterioration in airtightness) is prevented while sealing members to be placed between a container and covers that compose a decompression chamber can be omitted. A degasifier includes a decompression chamber provided with a container and covers, and a gas-permeable tube. The container is a tubular body extending along the central axis. The covers seal the openings of the ends of the tubular body. The gas-permeable tube is contained in the decompression chamber in such a manner that a liquid to be degassed that has entered from the outside of the decompression chamber flows therethrough and the liquid to be degassed that has flowed therethrough flows out of the decompression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Hajime Ooya
  • Patent number: 7662212
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymeric ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes of, for instance, Halar, PVDF or PP, incorporating PVME or vinyl methyl ether monomers. The PVME may be present as a coating on the membrane or dispersed throughout the membrane or both. The membranes are preferably hydrophilic with a highly asymmetric structure with a reduced pore size and/or absence of macrovoids as a result of the addition of PVME. The PVME maybe cross-linked. The invention also relates to methods of hydrophilising membranes and/or preparing hydrophilic membranes via thermal or diffusion induced phase separation processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel Mullette, Joachim Muller, Neeta Patel
  • Patent number: 7658784
    Abstract: Composite materials are provided. A representative material is configured as a composite membrane for gas separation, vapor separation, or pervaporation. The composite membrane comprises at least a first polymer and a second polymer. Processes for the production of composite materials, in particular composite membranes, also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht
    Inventors: Detlev Fritsch, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Dominique De Figueiredo Gomes
  • Patent number: 7637983
    Abstract: Metal-organic framework (MOF)-polymer mixed matrix membranes (MOF-MMMs) have been prepared by dispersing high surface area MOFs (e.g. IRMOF-1) into a polymer matrix (e.g. Matrimid 5218). The MOFs allow the polymer to infiltrate the pores of the MOFs, which improves the interfacial and mechanical properties of the polymer and in turn affects permeability. Pure gas permeation tests show the incorporation of 20 wt-% of IRMOF-1 in Matrimid 5218 polyimide matrix results in 280% improvement in CO2 permeability without a loss of CO2/CH4 selectivity compared to those of the pure Matrimid 5218 membrane. This type of MOF-MMMs has significantly improved gas separation performance with dramatically high CO2 permeability (>35 barrer) and higher than 29 CO2/CH4 selectivity at 50° C. under 100 psig pressure, which are attractive candidates for practical gas separation applications such as CO2 removal from natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Beth McCulloch, Stephen T. Wilson, Annabelle I. Benin, Mark E. Schott
  • Patent number: 7632898
    Abstract: A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with an organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be included in a separatory medium. At least 85% of the imidazole nitrogens may be substituted. The organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be an organosilane moiety, for example, (R)Me2SiCH2— where R is selected from among methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and allyl. The separatory medium may exhibit an H2, Ar, N2, O2, CH3, or CO2 gas permeability greater than the gas permeability of a comparable separatory medium comprising the PBI compound without substitution. The separatory medium may further include an electronically conductive medium and/or an ionically conductive medium. The separatory medium may be used as a membrane (semi-permeable, permeable, and non-permeable), a barrier, an ion exchange media, a filter, a gas chromatography coating (such as stationary phase coating in affinity chromatography), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Klaehn, Eric S. Peterson, Alan K. Wertsching, Christopher J. Orme, Thomas A. Luther, Michael G. Jones
  • Patent number: 7628841
    Abstract: A process of producing an asymmetric membrane of multicomponent polyimide. The process includes the steps of (1) preparing a multicomponent polyimide blend solution by mixing a polyimide component A having a number-averaged polymerization index NA and a polyimide component B having a number-averaged polymerization index NB, wherein NA and NB satisfies equation 1: 2.35×NA?2.09<NB<450×NA?1.12??1 (2) subjecting the multicomponent polyimide blend solution to further polymerization and imidation reaction, and (3) causing a phase inversion in the resulting multicomponent polyimide blend solution to form an asymmetric membrane. The polyimide component A is raw materials of polyimide A containing a fluorine atom in the chemical structure thereof and/or a polymerization and imidation reaction product of the raw materials. The polyimide component B is raw materials of polyimide B and/or a polymerization and imidation reaction product of the raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimune Yoshinaga, Kenji Fukunaga, Yoji Kase
  • Patent number: 7621982
    Abstract: A liquid-gas separator for a direct liquid feed fuel cell includes a tube having an opening portion at a sidewall thereof; liquid extracting members that selectively transmit the liquid in the tube and located at both ends of the tube; a gas extracting membrane that selectively transmits the gas and covers the opening portion; an inlet that guides the liquid and the gas into the tube; chambers that surround an outer side of the liquid extracting member; and outlets that guide the liquid in the chambers to the outside by being connected to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-kyun Kang, Xiaobing Luo, Dong-kee Sohn, Hae-kyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 7615104
    Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with an oxygen permeable membrane formed from a multiple of layers. The layers include a sealant layer, an oxygen permeability layer and a porous backing layer. The layered composite oxygen permeable membrane maximizes the oxygen transfer rate and minimizes the fuel leakage rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: United Technologies Corporation, Membrane Technology & Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Haralambos Cordatos, Louis J. Spadaccini, Ingo Pinnau
  • Patent number: 7611568
    Abstract: A liquid-gas separator for a direct liquid feed fuel cell includes: a housing having an open hole; a gas extracting membrane that covers the open hole and transmits only the gas; a liquid extracting member that defines a first chamber that contacts the gas extracting membrane and a second chamber that does not contact the gas extracting membrane, and selectively transmits the liquid in the first chamber to the second chamber; an inlet that guides the liquid and the gas into the housing; and an outlet that is connected to the second chamber and guides the liquid in the second chamber to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-kyun Kang, Dong-kee Sohn, Woong-ho Cho, Sang-hyeon Choi
  • Patent number: 7604746
    Abstract: The present application discloses a composite membrane comprising (a) a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and (b) a cross-linked copolymer comprising (i) a cationic monomer and an anionic monomer and/or (ii) a zwitterionic monomer, which cross-linked copolymer fills the pores of the support member, the cross-linked copolymer having a permeability for a fluid that is dependent on the polarity of the fluid, wherein the permeability increases with increasing polarity. The present application also discloses a process for the preparation of the composite membrane, a pervaporation apparatus comprising the composite membrane, and methods for the use of the composite material in separation and dehydration processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: Ronald F. Childs, Jie Yu
  • Publication number: 20090249950
    Abstract: A composition of and a method of making high performances 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/CH4 selectivity. Another embodiment provides a method of making the membrane from a monesterified polymer followed by final crosslinking after the membrane is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: William J. Koros, David Wallace, John D. Wind, Claudia Staudt-Bickel, Stephen J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7591878
    Abstract: The invention relates to gas separation, in particular to separation of CO2 from CO2-rich liquids, particularly from CO2 absorption liquids used in the removal of CO2 from off-gases or product flows, such as natural gas or synthesis gas. According to the invention, CO2 is separated from a CO2-rich liquid by a method comprising a step wherein, under elevated pressure, said liquid is contacted with a membrane based on polyacetylene substituted with trimethylsilyl groups such that the pressure across the membrane is at least 1 bar and that at least a part of the CO2 is transported from the liquid through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Paul Hubert M. Feron, Vladimir Vasilevich Volkov, Valery Samuilovich Khotimsky, Vladimir Vasil'evich Teplyakov
  • Publication number: 20090217819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer compositions comprising a (co)polymer comprising (a) an arylene oxide moiety and (b) a dendritic (co)polymer, a hyperbranched (co)polymer or a mixture thereof, and the use of these polymer compositions as membrane materials for the separation of gases. The present invention further relates to the use of a dendritic (co)polymer, a hyperbranched (co)polymer or a mixture thereof as permeability and/or selectivity enhancing additives in gas separation membranes. The dendritic (co)polymer is preferably a Boltorn polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Wessling, Dana Manuela Sterescu, Dimitrios Stamatialis
  • Patent number: 7572321
    Abstract: A membrane 12 that exhibits superior condensation resistance regardless of the type of moisture-permeable resin, that has satisfactory adhesion between a porous film and a reinforcing member, and that can be manufactured in a simple manner. The membrane 12 is a laminated article 23 containing a porous film 20 and a reinforcing member 40, and the reinforcing member 40 has a moisture-permeable resin layer 30 on the side of an interface 50 with the porous film 20. To reliably form the moisture-permeable resin layer (moisture-permeable resin film) 30, the average pore diameter of the porous film 20 is preferably 0.01 to 10 ?m, and the porosity of the reinforcing member 40 is preferably 30 to 95%. According to the membrane 12 of the present invention, even if the moisture-permeable resin is water-soluble (for example, polyvinyl alcohol), condensation resistance is still satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamakawa, Takashi Imai
  • Patent number: 7556677
    Abstract: There is provided an asymmetric integrally skinned membrane comprising a polyimide and another polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, sulfonated polyetheretherketones and mixtures thereof. The membrane which is substantially insoluble in an organic solvent and substantially defect-free can be useful as a separation membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Vaperma Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Cranford, Christian Roy
  • Publication number: 20090092624
    Abstract: The present invention relates in part to antiinfective flavononol compounds represented by formula I: Another aspect of the invention is a method for treating an infection in a subject by administering the compounds of Formula I to the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Randall S. Alberte, William P. Roschek, JR.
  • Patent number: 7513935
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing silica containing molecular sieves which may be mixed with an organic polymer to create a mixed matrix membrane. Further, this invention includes a method of making such a mixed matrix membrane and the membrane itself. A process for separating component gases from a mixture using the subject mixed matrix membrane is also described. The method for preparing silica containing molecular sieves comprises super water washing silica containing molecular sieves to produce water washed molecular sieves which are substantially free of surface remnants. Super water washing also ideally lowers the concentration of alkali metals in the molecular sieves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, Lun-Teh Yuen
  • Patent number: 7510595
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, composition and apparatus for forming a nanoparticle filled polymer having similar gas selectivity and greater gas permeability than the native polymer. The nanoparticle filled polymer includes one or more polymeric materials and one or more nanoparticles dispersed within the one or more polymeric materials that increasing the permeability of the nanoparticle filled polymers relative to the permeability of the native polymer membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Benny D. Freeman, Scott Matteucci, Haiqing Lin
  • Patent number: 7497896
    Abstract: Methods for treating a gas mixture of at least propylene and propane, in order to separate the propylene from the propane. The gas mixture is brought into contact with a membrane enables the selective permeation of the propylene with respect to the propane. A propylene-enriched permeate and a propane-enriched retentate is formed. The propylene concentration of the permeate in the membrane is then reduced with a sweeping gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Bromet, Guillaume De Souza, Olivier Riu
  • Patent number: 7491258
    Abstract: A gas and liquid separation device for use with a fuel tank. The separation device includes a body having at least one passage therethrough in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a gas and liquid separator carried by the body in fluid communication with the at least one passage and being oriented at an angle with respect to horizontal when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: TI Automotive Fuel Systems SAS
    Inventors: Christophe Gouzou, Eric Renard, Humbert de Monts de Savasse
  • Patent number: 7491262
    Abstract: There is provided a nanocomposite membrane comprising an Ag-nanoparticle/polymer nanocomposite, in which the Ag-particles are uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix, and a support membrane for supporting the nanocomposite, as well as a process of preparing said membrane. The nanocomposite membrane of the present invention comprising a neutral Ag-nanoparticle as an olefin carrier, which is chemically stable, has excellent long-term operation performance characteristics as well as high selectivity and permeability. Thus, it can be advantageously used for the separation of olefin from an olefin/paraffin mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong Soo Kang, Kook Heon Char, Sang Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 7485173
    Abstract: The present invention is for novel high performance cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes and the use of such membranes for separations such as for CO2/CH4, H2/CH4 and propylene/propane separations. More specifically, the invention involves the preparation of cross-linkable and cross-linked mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The cross-linkable MMMs were prepared by incorporating microporous molecular sieves or soluble high surface area microporous polymers (PIMs) as dispersed microporous fillers into a continuous cross-linkable polymer matrix. The cross-linked MMMs were prepared by UV-cross-linking the cross-linkable MMMs containing cross-linkable polymer matrix such as BP-55 polyimide. Pure gas permeation test results demonstrated that both types of MMMs exhibited higher performance for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations than those of the corresponding cross-linkable and cross-linked pure polymer matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Jeffrey J. Chiou, Stephen T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7462223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer blend membrane comprising a bridged polymer which is produced by a selected process. The membrane of the invention displays a significantly improved fracture toughness (elongation at break/stress) combined with virtually unchanged other properties. The membranes of the invention are suitable for producing membrane-electrode units for fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal
  • Patent number: 7455706
    Abstract: A filter system including a method for self cleaning the filter system of an electronic equipment enclosure where air flow is monitored either by monitoring fan performance of air flow velocity through the enclosure. The system includes two filters elements, an upstream ASHRAE or HEPA filter element to block particulate matter and a downstream PTFE filter element to block water vapor. The ASHRAE or HEPA filter element is relatively inexpensive and easy to clean. The PTFE filter element is more expensive and difficult to clean. Thus, the cheaper filter is used to protect the more expensive filter from contaminants and to increase its useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Network Power, Energy Systems, North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Latham, Marvin P. Garcia, Michael R. Cosley
  • Patent number: 7435284
    Abstract: A parallel-plate diffusion gas dehumidifier has a treatment zone having at least one water-permeable membrane. The gas dehumidifier includes an untreated gas inlet, a treatment zone bounded by water-permeable membranes, a support structure for the membranes, access to a source of vacuum, and a dehumidified gas outlet. The cross section of the treatment zone may be provided in various shapes, for example, rectangular. The gas dehumidifier inlet and outlet include flow transitions that minimize the obstruction of particles passing through the dehumidifier. The dehumidifier may be used in particle sampling systems to dehumidify the sample gas prior to introducing the sample gas to a mass measuring device and mass flow controller. Methods of operating the gas dehumidifier and the particle sampling system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Thermo Electron Corporation
    Inventors: James Domenick Piccinini, Lauren R. Basch, Adam Bailey
  • Patent number: 7422623
    Abstract: This abstract discusses membranes needed to separate fluids for the production of oxygen-enriched air, nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, and the separation of hydrogen from various petrochemical and oil refining streams. Membranes are needed that provide a resistance to interaction with process components or contaminants, provide the mechanical strength required to withstand high membrane differential pressures and high process temperatures, and exhibit sufficient maximum strain such that membranes are not brittle and can easily be formed into desirable membrane forms. Membranes of polyimide polymers, particularly polyimide polymers sold under the trade name P-84, are annealed in a controlled annealing step to improve the mechanical properties of the polymers used to make separation membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Okan Max Ekiner, John W. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7404844
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making a high performance carbon membranes from polymer membranes. The method comprising the steps of exposing polymer precursor compounds to a polar organic liquid before pyrolysis of the exposed polymer precursor compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Pei Shi Tin, Tai Shung Neal Chung
  • Publication number: 20080156188
    Abstract: A fixed-site-membrane comprising a support structure coated with crosslinked polyvinylamine, wherein the crosslinking agent is a compound comprising a fluoride. The membrane comprises water, such as by being swelled in water vapour. A process for producing the membranes, and the use of such membranes for separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from gas mixtures are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: NTNU Technology Transfer as
    Inventors: May-Britt Hagg, Taek-Joong Kim, Baoan Li
  • Patent number: 7393383
    Abstract: Membranes are used to separate fluids for the production of oxygen-enriched air, nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, and the separation of hydrogen from various petrochemical and oil refining streams. Membranes are discussed that provide a resistance to interaction with process components or contaminants, which can lead to plasticizing of the membrane, while providing the mechanical strength required to withstand high membrane differential pressures and high process temperatures. Membranes of blended polymers are used to improve the mechanical strength of the polymers used to make separation membranes. Specifically, polyimide polymers are combined with a blend polymer that is a polyamide and/or a polyamide-imde polymer. The resulting polymer mix is used to produce various forms of high strength, chemically resistant membranes, including hollow-fiber membranes that are suitable for high pressure, high temperature applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Okan Max Ekiner, John Warren Simmons
  • Patent number: 7393388
    Abstract: A deoxygenator includes a plurality of permeable membranes spirally wound about an exhaust tube for removing dissolved oxygen from a hydrocarbon fuel. The permeable membrane is spirally wrapped about the exhaust tube and defines fuel passages and exhaust passages. The fuel passages and exhaust passages alternate such that each fuel passage is bounded on each adjacent side by an exhaust passage. An oxygen partial pressure differential is generated across the permeable membrane to draw dissolved oxygen from fuel in the fuel passage. The dissolved oxygen is then communicated through openings about the circumference of the exhaust tube and out the deoxygenator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Spadaccini, Harry Cordatos, Thomas Gregory Tillman, Alexander G. Chen, Louis Chiappetta, James R. Irish, Foster Phillip Lamm, Stephen R. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080141863
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method of making high performance mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) using stabilized concentrated suspensions of solvents, uniformly dispersed polymer stabilized molecular sieves, and at least two different types of polymers as the continuous blend polymer matrix. MMMs as dense films or asymmetric flat sheet or hollow fiber membranes fabricated by the method described in the current invention exhibit significantly enhanced permeation performance for separations over the polymer membranes made from the continuous blend polymer matrix. MMMs of the present invention are suitable for a wide range of gas, vapor, and liquid separations such as alcohol/water, CO2/CH4, H2/CH4, O2/N2, CO2/N2, olefin/paraffin, iso/normal paraffins, and other light gases separations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Man-Wing Tang, Stephen T. Wilson, David A. Lesch
  • Publication number: 20080134885
    Abstract: An asymmetric hollow-fiber gas separation membrane is made of a soluble aromatic polyimide that is composed of a specific repeating unit. The tetracarboxylic acid component of the unit has a diphenylhexafluoropropane structure and a biphenyl structure. The diamine component of the unit essentially contains diaminobenzoic acids and any of diaminodibenzothiophenes, diaminodibenzothiophene=5,5-dioxides, diaminothioxanthene-10,10-diones, and diaminothioxanthene-9,10,10-triones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Ube Industries, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimune Yoshinaga, Kenji Fukunaga, Yutaka Kanetsuki, Hiroshi Uchida, Minoru Shigemura, Nozomu Tanihara
  • Patent number: 7344578
    Abstract: A breather valve device for a container for an electronic control unit, includes a support structure including, a substantially planar wall having first and second surfaces intended to face outwardly and inwardly of the container respectively, and in which is formed an aperture, and a projecting, essentially cylindrical, tubular wall extending from the first surface of the planar wall, substantially around the aperture; an interceptor element having a smaller cross section than the passage cross section of the tubular wall and of the aperture; the interceptor element being disposed inside an axially intermediate portion of the tubular wall, spaced radially from the latter so as to define, with respect to the tubular wall, a narrow annular gap; the interceptor element being connected to the support structure by at least one connector formation. The support structure, the interceptor element and the connector formation are integrally formed in one piece of molded plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Gate S.R.L.
    Inventor: Aulo Origlia
  • Patent number: 7306647
    Abstract: A mixed matrix membrane for separating gas components from a mixture of gas components is disclosed. The membrane comprises a continuous phase polymer with inorganic porous particles, preferably molecular sieves, interspersed in the polymer. The polymer has a CO2/CH4 selectivity of at least 20 and the porous particles have a mesoporosity of at least 0.1 cc STP/g. The mixed matrix membrane exhibits an increase in permeability of least 30% with any decrease in selectivity being no more than 10% relative to a membrane made of the neat polymer. The porous particles may include, but are not limited to, molecular sieves such as CVX-7 and SSZ-13, and/or other molecular sieves having the required mesoporosity. A method for making the mixed matrix membrane is also described. Further, a method is disclosed for separating gas components from a mixture of gas components using the mixed matrix membrane with mesoporous particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, Alexander Kuperman, De Q. Vu
  • Patent number: 7303609
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a polyimide hollow fibre comprising: (i) providing a dope solution comprising one or more polyimides dissolved in a solvent comprising 60-100 wt % N-methylpyrollidone and 0-40 wt % ethanol, (ii) providing a bore fluid, (iii) generating a tube of the dope solution filled with the bore fluid, (iv) bringing the product of step (iii) into contact with a coagulation solvent to form a hollow fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: British Gas Asia Pacific Pte Limited
    Inventors: Tai-Shung Chung, Rong Wang, Ji Zhong Ren, Chun Cao, Ye Liu, Dong-Fei Li
  • Patent number: 7264650
    Abstract: A semipermeable separation element includes (a) a porous substrate, and (b) a film formed on the microporous substrate; the film comprising a silicone elastomer and a nanoparticle filler. The film preferably has an oxygen enrichment selectivity of at least 30, or even 60, over nitrogen. Methods of making and using the same and filter cartridges incorporating the same are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
    Inventors: Jianzhong Lou, Arvind Vyas Harinath, Shamsuddin Ilias, Jag Sankar
  • Patent number: 7247191
    Abstract: A composition of and a method of making high performance hollow fiber membranes is described. The membranes have a high resistance to plasticization by use of a predetermined amount of crosslinking. The preferred polymer material for the membrane is a polyimide polymer comprising covalently bonded ester crosslinks. The resultant hollow fiber membrane exhibits a high permeability of CO2 in combination with a high CO2/CH4 selectivity. Another embodiment provides a method of making the hollow fiber membrane from a monesterified polymer followed by final crosslinking after hollow fiber formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Koros, David Wallace, John Wind, Stephen J. Miller, Claudia Staudt-Bickel