Asymmetric gas separation membranes
First Claim
1. An asymmetric gas separation membrane exhibiting substantially improved gas separation selectivity comprising, a preformed asymmetric separation membrane of material having selective permeation of at least one gas of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture which has been contacted on one or both surfaces with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid, wherein with respect to the at least one gas, the acid contacted membrane exhibits a separation factor significantly greater than the separation factor exhibited by the membrane before acid contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Asymmetric gas separation membranes of materials having selective permeation of at least one gas of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture, exhibit significantly improved permeation selectivities for the at least one gas when the asymmetric membrane is contacted on one or both surfaces with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid. The improved asymmetric gas separation membranes, process for producing the improved membrane, and processes utilizing such membranes for selectively separating at least one gas from a gaseous mixture by permeation are disclosed.
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Citations
28 Claims
- 1. An asymmetric gas separation membrane exhibiting substantially improved gas separation selectivity comprising, a preformed asymmetric separation membrane of material having selective permeation of at least one gas of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture which has been contacted on one or both surfaces with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid, wherein with respect to the at least one gas, the acid contacted membrane exhibits a separation factor significantly greater than the separation factor exhibited by the membrane before acid contact.
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11. A process for improving the selectivity of an asymmetric gas separation membrane of material exhibiting selective permeation of at least one gas of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture comprising:
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contacting the preformed asymmetric gas separation membrane with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid which is volatile at ambient conditions, the acid being contacted with one or both surfaces of the membrane for a period sufficient with respect to the at least one gas to improve the separation factor significantly greater than the separation factor exhibited by the membrane before acid treatment; and removing the residual acid through vaporization. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. A process for improving the selectivity of a multicomponent membrane for gas separations wherein an asymmetric membrane is coated with one or more materials, said multicomponent membrane exhibiting selectivity permeation of at least one gas of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture comprising, contacting the preformed multicomponent gas separation membrane with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid which is volatile at ambient conditions, the acid being contacted with one or both surfaces of the multicomponent membrane for a period sufficient with respect to the at least one pair of gases to improve the separation factor.
- 24. A multicomponent gas separation membrane exhibiting improved gas separation selectivity and resistance to hydrocarbons degradation, comprising, an asymmetric membrane coated with one or more materials, said membrane having selective permeation of at least one of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture which has been contacted on one or both surfaces with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid, wherein with respect to the at least one gas, the acid contacted multicomponent gas separation membrane exhibits an improved separation factor greater than the separation factor exhibited by the multicomponent gas separation membrane before acid treatment.
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27. A process for separating at least one gas of a gaseous mixture from at least one other gas and said gaseous mixture by selective permeation and providing a permeated product containing at least one permeating gas comprising:
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contacting the gaseous mixture with one surface of an asymmetric gas separation membrane exhibiting substantially improved gas separation selectivity, the asymmetric gas separation membrane having been contacted on one or both surfaces with an effective amount of a Br nsted-Lowry acid, wherein with respect to the at least one gas, the acid contacted asymmetric separation membrane exhibits an improved separation factor significantly greater than the separation factor exhibited by the asymmetric membrane before acid treatment; and removing from the vicinity of an opposite surface from the contact surface, a permeated product having a different proportion of said at least one gas of said gaseous mixture to said at least one other gas of said gaseous mixture than the proportion of the gaseous mixture of said at least one gas to said at least one other gas.
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28. A process for separating at least one gas in a gaseous mixture from at least one other gas in said gaseous mixture by selective permeation and providing a permeated product containing at least one permeating gas by contacting the gaseous mixture with one surface of a multicomponent gas separation membrane exhibiting improved gas separation selectivity and resistance to hydrocarbons which is comprised of an asymmetric membrane coated with one or more materials, said membrane having selective permeation of at least one of a gaseous mixture over that of one or more remaining gases of the gaseous mixture which has been contacted on one or both surfaces with a Br nsted-Lowry acid, wherein with respect to the at least one gas, the acid contacted multicomponent gas separation membrane exhibits an improved separation factor greater than the separation factor exhibited by the multicomponent gas separation before acid treatment;
- and removing from the vicinity of an opposite, noncontacted membrane surface a permeated product having a different proportion of said at least one gas of said gaseous mixture to said at least one other gas of said gaseous mixture than the proportion in the gaseous mixture of said at least one gas to said at least one other gas.
Specification