Method to reduce fuel vapor emissions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for reducing hydrocarbon fuel vapor emissions from fuel reservoirs which comprises:
- contacting a vented hydrocarbon fuel vapor stream from a fuel reservoir with a polymeric adsorbent to retain at least a portion of the hydrocarbon fuel vapors emitted from reservoir, the polymeric adsorbent comprising a macroporous or macroreticular copolymer of at least one monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a crosslinking monomer which has been post-crosslinked in a swollen state in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Hydrocarbon emissions from fuel reservoirs, particularly those associated with motor vehicles, are abated by contacting a vented hydrocarbon fuel vapor stream from the reservoirs with a polymeric adsorbent derived from a macroporous or macroreticular copolymer of at least one monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a crosslinking monomer. The macroporous copolymers are converted into suitable adsorbents by post-polymerization crosslinking in a swollen state in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The resulting adsorbent has improved hydrocarbon adsorption capacity relative to conventional activated carbon adsorbents.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for reducing hydrocarbon fuel vapor emissions from fuel reservoirs which comprises:
contacting a vented hydrocarbon fuel vapor stream from a fuel reservoir with a polymeric adsorbent to retain at least a portion of the hydrocarbon fuel vapors emitted from reservoir, the polymeric adsorbent comprising a macroporous or macroreticular copolymer of at least one monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a crosslinking monomer which has been post-crosslinked in a swollen state in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
15. A method for reducing hydrocarbon fuel vapor emissions from fuel reservoirs which comprises:
contacting a vented hydrocarbon fuel vapor stream from a fuel reservoir with a polymeric adsorbent to retain at least a portion of the hydrocarbon fuel vapors emitted from the fuel reservoir, the adsorbent comprising a macroporous or macroreticular copolymer of at least one monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a crosslinking monomer which is post-crosslinked in a swollen state in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst, the macroporous or macroreticular copolymer comprising a cellular polymeric structure wherein a macroporous void phase is dispersed within a continuous copolymer phase, the void phase comprising a plurality of cellular void spaces which are at least partially enclosed by walls of the continuous copolymer phase. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
Specification