University of Colorado

University Technology Corporation

Other

Shell Oil Comapny

John L Falconer

Richard Daniel Noble

Shiguang Li

Hans Heinrich Funke

Steven McClellan George

Jason W Klaus

Moises Abraham Carreon

Andrew W Ott

Sara A Arvidson

Tuan Anh Vu

Zaida Diaz

Alan W Weimer

Brendan Dermot Murray

Paul Jason Williams

Miao Yu

Jianhua Li

Xinhua Liang

Meng-Dong Jia

Lucas Delano Ellis

James William Medlin

Surya Parker

Begum Tokay

Yanfeng Zhang

Functionalized zeolites, including a zeolite substrate and a self-assembled monolayer of a phosphonic acid on a surface of the zeolite substrate, are disclosed, as are methods of making and using the functionalized zeolites. The disclosed methods and compositions have various applications, including in the use of molecular sieves to separate small-molecule gases from mixtures thereof. Gas adsorption selectivities and diffusion rates of the functionalized zeolites may be tuned or selected according to the disclosed methods.

Functionalization of zeolites

Ultra-thin porous films are deposited on a substrate in a process that includes laying down an organic polymer, inorganic material or inorganic-organic material via an atomic layer deposition or molecular layer deposition technique, and then treating the resulting film to introduce pores. The films are characterized in having extremely small thicknesses of pores that are typically well less than 50 nm in size.

Ultra-thin metal oxide and carbon-metal oxide films prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD)

A method of making a supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane. In this method a porous support, which is preferably pretreated, is contacted with a molecular sieve synthesis mixture under hydrothermal synthesis conditions. The contacting step is conducted for a shortened crystallization time period. The resulting coated porous support is calcined to yield the supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane having particularly good gas separation characteristics.

Method of making a high-performance supported gas separation molecular sieve membrane using a shortened crystallization time

The present invention provides methods for making improved zeolite and crystalline silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) membranes, in particular SAPO-34 membranes, on a porous support through improved removal of the organic structure-directing templating agent. A calcining step is performed in an oxygen free atmosphere, such as under a vacuum or inert gas, to remove the organic templating agent. By removing the templating agent in the absence of oxygen, the calcination step can remove a greater amount of the templating agent than comparable template removal steps conducted in the presence of oxygen and the calcination step can be conducted at significantly lower temperatures. The membranes of the present invention provide increased permeance while maintaining comparable selectivity for gas separations, particularly carbon dioxide (CO) and methane (CH) separations and separations at high temperatures.

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SAPO-34 membranes and methods for their preparation and use are described. The SAPO-34 membranes are prepared by contacting at least one surface of a porous membrane support with a synthesis gel. The Si/Al ratio of the synthesis gel can be from 0.3 to 0.15. SAPO-34 crystals are optionally applied to the surface of the support prior to synthesis. A layer of SAPO-34 crystals is formed on at least one surface of the support. SAPO-34 crystals may also form in the pores of the support. SAPO-34 membranes of the invention can have improved selectivity for certain gas mixtures, including mixtures of carbon dioxide and methane.

SAPO-34 membranes and methods for their preparation and use are described. The SAPO-34 membranes are prepared by contacting at least one surface of a porous membrane support with a synthesis gel comprising a first and a second templating agent. SAPO-34 crystals having a narrow size distribution were applied to the surface of the support prior to synthesis. A layer of SAPO-34 crystals is formed on at least one surface of the support. SAPO-34 membranes of the invention can have improved selectivity for certain gas mixtures, including mixtures of carbon dioxide and methane.

Synthesis of zeolites and zeolite membranes using multiple structure directing agents

The present invention provides modified molecular sieve membranes with improved CO/CHseparation selectivity and methods for making such membranes. The molecular sieve membranes are modified by adsorption of a modifying agent, such as ammonia, within and/or on the membrane.

Membranes for highly selective separations

SAPO membranes and methods for their preparation and use are described. The SAPO membranes are prepared by contacting at least one surface of a porous membrane support with an aged synthesis gel. A layer of SAPO crystals is formed on at least one surface of the support. SAPO crystals may also form in the pores of the support. SAPO-34 membranes of the invention can have improved selectivity for certain gas mixtures, including mixtures of carbon dioxide and methane.

High-selectivity supported SAPO membranes

Zeolite membranes that can be used to continuously separate components of mixtures are disclosed. The zeolite membranes are prepared by isomorphous substitution, which allows systematic modification of the zeolite surface and pore structure. Through proper selection of the basic zeolite framework structure and compensating cations, isomorphous substitution permits high separation selectivity without many of the problems associated with zeolite post-synthesis treatments. The inventive method for preparing zeolite membranes is alkali-free and is much simpler than prior methods for making acid hydrogen zeolite membranes, which can be used as catalysts in membrane reactors.

Isomorphously substituted molecular sieve membranes

A modified zeolite or molecular sieve membrane for separation of materials on a molecular scale. The modified membrane is fabricated to wholly or partially block regions between zeolite crystals to inhibit transfer of larger molecules through the membrane, but without blocking or substantially inhibiting transfer of small molecules through pores in the crystalline structure. The modified membrane has a monomolecular layer deposited on the zeolite surface which has coordinated groups of atoms that include (i) a metal atom bonded to oxygen atoms that are bonded to the zeolite substrate atoms (e.g., silicon atoms) and (ii) either hydroxyl groups bonded to the metal atoms or additional oxygen atoms bonded to the metal atoms.

Modified zeolite membrane

A process for modifying surfaces of zeolites and molecular sieve membranes to decrease effective pore size for separation of materials includes atomic layer controlled vapor or liquid deposition. The atomic layer controlled deposition process steps include (i) exposing the surface to a metal atom coordinated with ligand groups having bonds that are hydrolyzable to form molecular bonded structures on the surface, which structures comprise the metal atoms coordinated with the ligand group or a modified ligand group and then (ii) hydrolyzing the bonds and possibly, but not necessarily, cross-linking the bonds in the ligand or modified ligand group.

Modification of zeolite or molecular sieve membranes using atomic layer

A zeolite composite membrane apparatus and method for preparing a novel continuous zeolite composite membrane. The method described results in formation of a thin polycrystalline continuous zeolite layer on the inner wall of a substrate container. The container may be a cylinder. After calcination, the zeolite composite membrane shows high permeability and high selectivity for single gas and for vapor/gas mixtures. The zeolite composite membrane formed has improved separation characteristics of shape selectivity and selective adsorption. The geometry of the membrane provides a high permeation area to volume ratio. The membrane is useful for high temperature gas separations and for membrane reactor applications.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

John L Falconer