Sorbent system for water removal from air

• US 7,759,275 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Birbara, Philip J., Nalette, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailey; Patricia L
• Application Number:
  US11/775,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 502/159, 502/162, 502/200, 502400-402, 423/229, 423/230, 423/580.1, 95/90, 951/39
• US Class Current: 502/159
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/202 Polymeric adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/22 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28014 characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28042 Shaped bodies; Monolithic structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28057 Surface area, e.g. B.E.T specific surface area
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28071 being less than 0.5 ml/g
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28083 being in the range 2-50 nm, i.e. mesopores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28097 being coated, filled or plugged with specific compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/321 consisting of a polymer obtained by reactions involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3242 Layers with a functional group, e.g. an affinity material, a ligand, a reactant or a complexing group
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3244 Non-macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3248 the functional group or the linking, spacer or anchoring group as a whole comprising at least one type of heteroatom selected from a nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, these atoms not being part of the carrier as such
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3251 comprising at least two different types of heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3425 of sorbents or filter aids comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3483 by thermal treatment not covered by groups B01J20/3441 - B01J20/3475, e.g. by heating or cooling

Abstract

A sorbent system includes a porous polymer support and a sorbent within the porous polymer support. For example, the sorbent includes a tertiary amine, such as triethanolamine.

Claims

1. A sorbent system comprising:

a porous polymer support having an average pore radius of about 10-25 nanometers; and

a sorbent within the porous polymer support, the sorbent including a tertiary amine present in the porous polymer support in an amount of about 0.7 to 1.0 wt/wt of the support.

2. The sorbent system as recited in claim 1, wherein the porous polymer support comprises polymethylmethacrylate.

3. The sorbent system as recited in claim 1, wherein the porous polymer support comprises a pore volume of about 0.25 to 0.40 cm³/cm³.

4. The sorbent system as recited in claim 1, wherein the porous polymer support comprises a total surface area including pores of about 400 to 1000 m²/g.

5. The sorbent system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tertiary amine comprises triethanolamine.

6. The sorbent system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sorbent consists essentially of the tertiary amine.

7. The sorbent system as recited in claim 1, wherein the porous polymer support comprises a plurality of pellets within a sorbent bed.

8. A sorbent system comprising:

a porous polymer support having an average pore radius of about 10-25 nanometers; and

a sorbent within the porous polymer support, the sorbent having a regeneration temperature of less than 140°

F. and wherein the sorbent is present within the porous polymer support in an amount of about 0.7 to 1.0 wt/wt of the support.

9. The sorbent system as recited in claim 8, wherein the regeneration temperature is about 122°

F.

10. The sorbent system as recited in claim 8, wherein the sorbent comprises a tertiary amine.

11. The sorbent system as recited in claim 10, wherein the tertiary amine comprises triethanolamine.

12. A method of regenerating a sorbent system having a porous polymer support and a sorbent within the porous polymer support having adsorbed water, the method comprising:

a. desorbing substantially all of the water from the sorbent at a regeneration temperature that is less than 140°

F., wherein the porous polymer support comprises pores having an average pore radius of about 10-25 nanometers and the sorbent is present in the porous polymer support in an amount of about 0.7 to 1.0 wt/wt of the support.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the regeneration temperature is about 122°

F.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising reducing a water vapor partial pressure to a pressure that is less than ambient relative humidity to desorb substantially all of the water from the sorbent.