Novel block polyurethane-ether and polyurea-ether gas separation membranes
AssigneeL'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a'Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedures Georges Claude
InventorJohn W. Simmons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gas separation membranes formed from polyether-urethane or polyether-urea block copolymers are useful for separating gases from gas mixtures. The membranes and processes are especially suited for separating polar gases from mixtures that contain polar and non- polar species. The novel membranes exhibit good permeability and permselectivity, as well as durability, making them well suited for industrial applications such as removal of acid gases from natural gas and removal of carbon dioxide from synthesis gas. Novel Block Polyurethane-Ether and Polyurea-Ether Gas Separation
Claims58
A selectively permeable membrane for separating and/or concentrating gases comprised of polyurethane-polyether or polyurea-polyether block copolymers, said membranes comprising:
- repeating units of formulas (Is) and (Ih):
- 3
- wherein Ri of formulae (Is) and (Ih) is an aliphatic or aromatic radical;
- (PE) is a polyether segment;
- Ra of formula (Ih) is a linear or branched aliphatic radical;
- and
- X of formula (Ih) is an oxygen atom or —NH—.
A process for separating component gases of a gas mixture comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a selectively permeable membrane comprising at least one block copolymer comprising repeating units of formulae (Is) and (Ih):
- 5
- wherein Ri of formulae (Is) and (Ih) is an aliphatic or aromatic radical;
- (PE) of formula (Is) is a polyether segment;
- Ra of formula (Ih) is a linear or branched aliphatic radical;
- and
- X of formula (Ih) is an oxygen atom or —NH—;
- b) contacting a first side of the membrane with a feed gas mixture;
- and
- c) causing the component gases of the feed mixture to selectively permeate through the membrane, thereby forming on the second side of the membrane a permeate composition which has a greater concentration of a more permeable species than that of the feed mixture.
A block copolymer membrane for separating and/or concentrating gases comprised of:
- polyurethane-polyether or polyurea-polyether block copolymers comprised of repeating units of formulas (Is) and (Ih):
- 7
- wherein Ri of formulae (Is) and (Ih) is an aliphatic or aromatic radical;
- (PE) is a polyether segment;
- Ra of formula (Ih) is a linear or branched aliphatic radical;
- X of formula (Ih) is an oxygen atom or —NH—;
- and
- wherein said polyether comprises soft segments and said polyurethane or polyurea comprises hard segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.