Membrane Technology and Research, Inc

Andre R Da Costa

Ramin Daniels

Richard W Baker

Ingo Pinnau

Zhenjie He

Karl D Amo

Johannes Gerard Wijmans

Kaaeid A Lokhandwala

Ankur Jariwala

A process for separating a component from a low molecular weight organic mixture by pervaporation. The process uses fluorinated membranes and is particularly useful for treating mixtures containing light organic components, such as methane, propylene or n-butane.

Liquid-phase separation of low molecular weight organic compounds

A process and apparatus for separating carbon dioxide from gas, especially natural gas, that also contains C hydrocarbons. The invention uses two or three membrane separation steps, optionally in conjunction with cooling/condensation under pressure, to yield a lighter, sweeter product natural gas stream, and/or a carbon dioxide stream of reinjection quality and/or a natural gas liquids (NGL) stream.

Carbon dioxide removal process

A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen. The invention relies on two-stage membrane separation, using methane-selective membranes for the first stage and nitrogen-selective membranes for the second stage. The process enables the nitrogen content of the gas to be substantially reduced, without requiring the membranes to be operated at very low temperatures.

Nitrogen removal from natural gas using two types of membranes

A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing an organic compound gas or vapor by a hybrid separation combining adsorption with membrane gas separation, using membranes selective for the gas over the organic compound. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated cyclic structure of an at least 5-member ring, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment.

Gas separation using organic-vapor-resistant membranes and PSA

A process for separating nitrogen from a multicomponent gas mixture containing nitrogen and a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas or associated gas, using gas-separation membranes selective for nitrogen over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.

Nitrogen gas separation using organic-vapor-resistant membranes

A process for separating carbon dioxide from a multicomponent gas mixture containing carbon dioxide and a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas or associated gas, using gas-separation membranes selective for carbon dioxide over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.

Carbon dioxide gas separation using organic-vapor-resistant membranes

A process for treating a gas mixture containing at least an organic compound gas or vapor and a second gas, such as natural gas, refinery off-gas or air. The process uses two sequential membrane separation steps, one using membrane selective for the organic compound over the second gas, the other selective for the second gas over the organic vapor. The second-gas-selective membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons. The membrane steps can be combined in either order.

Gas separation using organic-vapor-resistant membranes in conjunction with organic-vapor-selective membranes

A process for separating hydrogen from a multicomponent gas mixture containing hydrogen and a hydrocarbon, using gas-separation membranes selective for hydrogen over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.

Hydrogen gas separation using organic-vapor-resistant membranes

A process for manufacturing cumene by reacting propylene with benzene, including treating a vent stream from the reaction zone, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30%, 40% or more propane, which is vented from the process, and a permeate stream containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the reactor.

Membrane-augmented manufacture of cumene

A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen. The invention relies on membrane separation using methane-selective membranes, but does not require the membranes to be operated at very low temperatures. We have found that, by using a two-step membrane system design, and controlling the operating pressures for the membrane steps within certain ranges, the capital and operating costs of the process can be kept within economically acceptable limits.

Two-step process for nitrogen removal from natural gas

A process for manufacturing isopropyl alcohol by reacting propylene with a reagent, including treating a vent stream from the reaction zone, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30% propane or more, which is vented from the process, and a permeate stream typically containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the reactor.

Membrane-augmented manufacture of propylene derivatives

A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing the gas and a C hydrocarbon vapor, using gas-separation membranes selective for the gas over the C hydrocarbon vapor. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.

Gas separation using C3&plus; hydrocarbon-resistant membranes

A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing an organic compound gas or vapor, using gas-separation membranes selective for the gas over the organic compound. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated cyclic structure of an at least 5-member ring, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment.

Gas separation using organic-vapor-resistant membranes

A process for polypropylene manufacturing, including treating a vent stream from the polymerization reactor, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30% propane or more, which is vented from the polymerization process, and a permeate stream containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the polymerization reactor.

Growing community of inventors

Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Andre R Da Costa