Membrane Technology and Research, Inc

New York University

Koike, Yasuhiro

Okamoto, Yoshiyuki

Zhenjie He

Ingo Pinnau

Richard W Baker

Ramin Daniels

Andre R Da Costa

Karl D Amo

Timothy C Merkel

Yoshiyuki Okamoto

Johannes Gerard Wijmans

Yasuhiro Koike

Kaaeid A Lokhandwala

Hao Zhang

Nicholas Patrick Wynn

Meijuan Zhou

Haiqing Lin

Sylvie Thomas-Droz

Shannon Goakey

Rolande J Blanc

Disclosed herein is a process for separating components of a gas mixture using gas-separation copolymer membranes. These membranes use a selective layer made from copolymers of perfluorodioxolane monomers. The resulting membranes have superior selectivity performance for gas pairs of interest while maintaining fast gas permeance compared to membranes prepared using conventional perfluoropolymers, such as Teflon&#xae; AF, Hyflon&#xae; AD, and Cytop&#xae;.

Gas separation membranes based on perfluorinated polymers

A process for separating components or a fluid mixture using membranes comprising a selective layer made from copolymers of an amorphous per fluorinated dioxolane and a fluorovinyl monomer. The resulting membranes have superior selectivity performance for certain fluid components of interest while maintaining fast permeance compared to membranes prepared using conventional perfluoropolymers, such as Teflon&#xae; AF, Hyflon&#xae; AD, and Cytop&#xae;.

Fluid separation processes using membranes based on fluorinated and perfluorinated polymers

A process for separating components of a gas mixture using gas-separation copolymer membranes. These membranes use a selective layer made from copolymers of partially fluorinated or perfluorinated dioxolane monomers and a second monomer, such as dioxane or a partially fluorinated dioxolane. The resulting membranes have superior selectivity performance for gas pairs of interest while maintaining fast gas permeance compared to membranes prepared using conventional perfluoropolymers, such as Teflon&#xae; AF, Hyflon&#xae; AD, and Cytop&#xae;.

Gas separation membranes based on fluorinated and perfluorinated polymers

A process for separating components of a gas mixture using gas-separation copolymer membranes. These membranes use a selective layer made from copolymers of an amorphous perfluorinated dioxolane and a fluorovinyl monomer. The resulting membranes have superior selectivity performance for gas pairs of interest while maintaining fast gas permeance compared to membranes prepared using conventional perfluoropolymers such as Teflon&#xae; AF, Hlyflon&#xae; AD, and Cytop&#xae;.

Disclosed herein is a methanol production process that includes at least two membrane separation steps. Using the process of the invention, the efficiency of methanol production from syngas is increased by reducing the compression requirements of the process and/or improving the methanol product yield. As an additional advantage, the first membrane separation step generates a hydrogen-rich stream which can be sent for other uses. An additional benefit is that the process of the invention may debottleneck existing methanol plants if more syngas or carbon dioxide is available, allowing for feed of imported carbon dioxide into the synthesis loop. This is a way of sequestering carbon dioxide.

Process for the production of methanol including two membrane separation steps

A membrane-based process for separating mixtures of target gases if the gas mixture also contains Chydrocarbon vapors. The process uses gas-separation membranes having a base membrane and a coating layer. The base membrane incorporates a selective layer made from a polymer selective between the light gases to be separated. The coating layer comprises a fluorinated polymer capable of protecting the base membrane from Chydrocarbon vapors and liquids.

Gas separation using coated 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 treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen and optionally excess carbon dioxide, water vapor or hydrogen sulfide. The invention relies on gas separation by membranes, using nitrogen/methane selective membranes. The membranes are characterized by having the capability to exhibit a nitrogen/methane selectivity between about 2 and 5 at a temperature higher than about &minus;25&deg; C. The gas may be brought to pipeline specification for nitrogen, and acid gases if present, without requiring the use of amine scrubbing or other acid gas removal technique.

Natural gas separation using nitrogen-selective membranes of modest selectivity

A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen and carbon dioxide simultaneously. The invention relies on membrane separation using nitrogen/methane and carbon dioxide/methane selective membranes. The gas can typically be brought to pipeline specification for both components, without requiring the use of amine scrubbing or other acid gas removal technique. Where water vapor or hydrogen sulfide is present in the raw gas, these contaminants may also be removed to meet pipeline specification in a single operation.

Natural gas separation using nitrogen-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.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Zhenjie He