Method of drying material by membrane dehumidified air

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of drying a feed gas mixture. The method includes contacting a first side of one or more membranes with a feed gas mixture. The feed gas mixture includes at least water and a second gas component. Contacting the first side of the one or more membranes with the feed gas mixture produces a permeate gas mixture on a second side of the one or more membranes and a retentate gas mixture on the first side of the one or more membranes. The permeate gas mixture is enriched in water, and the retentate mixture is depleted in water. The one or more membranes have a H2O vapor permeability coefficient of at least about 25,000 Barrer at room temperature. Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of drying a material. The method includes contacting a material with the retentate gas mixture, to provide a dried material. Various embodiments also relate to membranes useful for performing the drying method, devices or machines that can perform the drying method, and materials dried by the drying method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.