# US 2008/0185343 A1 · Method for separating an organic phase from an electrolyte-containing aqueous and organic phase > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185343 A1 - Document ID: US20080185343A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/876,094 - Filed: 2007-10-22 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-25 - Assignees: Bayer MaterialScience AG - Inventors: HELMUT MEYER; GUIDO NABERFELD; JOHANN RECHNER; RAFAEL WARSITZ; MICHAEL TRAVING; WERNER BACKER; THOMAS ELSNER; ARNO NENNEMANN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185343A1 ## CPC - B01D 37/02: Precoating the filter medium; Addition of filter aids to the liquid being filtered {(devices for feeding reagents C02F1/685 and sub-groups; filter aids)} - B01D 19/0031: {by filtration} - B01D 19/0078: {by vibration} - B01D 61/02: Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration {; Nanofiltration} - C07C 41/34: Separation; Purification; Stabilisation; Use of additives - C08G 64/406: {Purifying; Drying} - C08G 65/46: Post-polymerisation treatment, e.g. recovery, purification, drying - C08L 69/00: Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) ## Abstract A method for separating electrolyte-containing water from an organic phase by means of permeation on a hydrophobic separating means. The permeated organic solution is substantially depleted in water and the retained water is enriched with electrolytes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for separating an organic phase from a mixture of an organic phase comprising an organic solution and an aqueous phase comprising an electrolyte-containing water, wherein the mixture to be separated is passed over a hydrophobic porous separating means selected from the group consisting of organophilic membranes, perforated plates and flat textile structures at least a part of the organic phase of the mixture permeating through the separating means while the electrolyte-containing aqueous phase is at least partially retained together with the remainder, if any, of the organic phase. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic porous separating means is a flat textile structure of metal or plastic with a hydrophobic coating or hydrophobic surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein said flat textile structure is a woven or knitted fabric or a felt of polypropylene, polytetraflouoroethylene, polyinylidine fluoride or of a combination of such polymeric materials, without hydrophobic or organoophilic coatings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) Method according to claim 2 wherein said flat textile structure is a mesh of stainless steel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the separating means is an organophilic membrane of ceramic, metal, polymer, glass or corresponding composite materials of ceramic and glass or of polymer and ceramic or metal and has a coating of hydrophobic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the organophilic membrane consists of ceramic, metal, polymer, glass or corresponding composite materials of ceramic and glass or of polymer and ceramic or metal and is hydrophobic without a coating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5, 6) Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the organophilic membrane is a hydrophobicized ceramic membrane formed of a base material selected from the group consisting of Al2O3, TiO2, ZrO2 and SiC. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5, 6) Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the organophilic membrane is formed of an organophilic polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone and polyvinylidene fluoride. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5, 6) Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the organophilic membrane has a pore width of from 0.05 μm to 10 μm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Method according to claim 9, wherein said pore width is from 0.1 μm to 5 μm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) Method according to claim 2, wherein said hydrophobic porous separating means is a woven metal mesh with a hydrophobic coating said coating being a coating of a hydrophobic and/or organophilic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Method according to claim 11, wherein said coating is formed of or by a material selected from the group consisting of Teflon® AF PTEF, PTFE dispersion, isocyanates, organic polymers, organic latex, fluoro polymers, fluoro latex, hybrid copolymers, and in particular diblock copolymers of a polysilsesquioxan block, preferably poly(methylsilsesquioxan) or poly(stearylsilsesquioxan) and a hydrophobic polymer block selected from the series comprising polystyrene, polymethyl acrylate, polyethyl hexyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polydecyl methacrylate, fatty acids, silanes, lacquers, silicones, silicone oils and polysilsesquioxans, or organic and/or fluoro deposits applied from a plasma process, and mixtures of any two or more thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein said separating means is a hydrophobic woven metal mesh without further surface modification. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11, 13) Method according to claim 11 or 13, wherein the woven metal mesh has a mesh width <500 μm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Method according to claim 14, wherein said mesh width is <5 μm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture to be separated is an emulsion or dispersion of a water-immiscible aromatic or aliphatic organic solvent or polymer and water and electrolyte. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture to be separated is an emulsion or dispersion of polycarbonate dissolved in organic solvent and water and electrolyte. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture to be separated is a mixture of polyether polyol and water and electrolyte. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5, 11) Method according to claim 5 or 11, wherein the hydrophobic coating is produced by applying a smooth hydrophobic coating onto a previously roughened surface of the separating means. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5, 11) Method according to claim 5 or 11, wherein the hydrophobic coating is produced by applying a rough hydrophobic coating to the surface of the separating means.