The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 2018
Filed:
Oct. 08, 2014
The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
The United States of America As Represented BY the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC (US);
Josiah T. Reams, Lancaster, CA (US);
Andrew Guenthner, Lancaster, CA (US);
Joseph Mabry, Lancaster, CA (US);
Kevin Lamison, Lancaster, CA (US);
Anish Tuteja, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Arun K. Kota, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Gibum Kwon, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
In various aspects, methods and apparatuses for liquid-liquid extraction are provided. In certain aspects, an emulsion can be formed by combining a feed stream, an extractant, and a surfactant. The feed stream comprises a plurality of distinct components including a first component to be removed therefrom. The feed stream may be selected from a group consisting of: a hydrocarbon feed stream and an azeotrope. Then, a portion of the first component is extracted from the feed stream (or emulsion) by contact with a superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter that facilitates passage of the first component and extractant through the superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter. A purified product is collected having the portion of the first component removed. Such methods are particularly useful for refining fuels and oils and separating azeotropes and other miscible component systems. Energy-efficient, continuous single unit operation apparatuses for conducting such separation techniques are also provided.