# US 2014/0150646 A1 · Blend polymeric membranes containing fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymers for gas separations

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0150646 A1
- Document ID: US20140150646A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/174,400
- Filed: 2014-02-06
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-16
- Assignees: Uop LLC
- Applicants: Uop LLC
- Inventors: Chunqing Liu; Zara Osman; Changqing Lu; Andrew J. Poss; Rajiv R. Singh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150646A1

## CPC

- B01D 53/228: {characterised by specific membranes}
- B01D 53/22: by diffusion (manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00)
- B01D 67/00111: {Polymer pretreatment in the casting solutions}
- B01D 71/32: containing fluorine atoms
- C10G 5/00: Recovery of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from gases, e.g. natural gas
- C10G 31/00: Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for (by distillation C10G7/00)
- B01D 2256/24: Hydrocarbons
- B01D 2257/102: Nitrogen
- B01D 2257/104: Oxygen
- B01D 2257/108: Hydrogen
- B01D 2257/11: Noble gases
- B01D 2257/304: Hydrogen sulfide
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2257/708: Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
- B01D 2258/0283: Flue gases
- C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis}
- C02F 2101/34: containing oxygen
- C10L 3/102: {of acid contaminants}
- C10L 3/106: {of water}
- Y02C 20/40: of CO2
- 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)
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]

## Abstract

The present invention generally relates to gas separation membranes and, in particular, to high selectivity fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer-comprising polymeric blend membranes for gas separations. The polymeric blend membrane comprises a fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer and a second polymer different from the fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer. The fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymers in the current invention are copolymers comprising 10 to 99 mol % 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene-based structural units and 1 to 90 mol % vinylidene fluoride-based structural units. The second polymer different from the fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer is selected from a low cost, easily processable glassy polymer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process of separating at least two gases or two liquids comprising contacting said gases or liquids with a polymeric blend membrane comprising a fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprising 10 to 99 mol % 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene-based structural units and 1 to 90 mol % vinylidene fluoride-based structural units and a second polymer different from said fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said polymeric blend membrane comprises a fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprising 70 to 90 mol % 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene-based structural units and 10 to 30 mol % vinylidene fluoride-based structural units.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer comprises about 90 mol % 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene-based structural units and about 10 mol % vinylidene fluoride-based structural units.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said second polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, sulfonated polyethersulfones, cellulosic polymers, polyamides, polyimides, poly(arylene oxide), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl fluoride), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinyl alcohol), polymers of intrinsic microporosity and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said second polymer is a cellulose acetate or a polyimide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of said fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer to said second polymer different from the fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer in said polymeric blend membrane is in a range of 1:20 to 20:1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said polymeric blend membrane provides at least a 20% increase in selectivity for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations compared to a polymeric membrane made from a corresponding second polymer different from the fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said second polymer exhibits a carbon dioxide over methane selectivity of at least 10 at 35° C. under 791 kPa pure carbon dioxide or methane pressure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said second polymer exhibits a carbon dioxide over methane selectivity of at least 20 at 35° C. under 791 kPa pure carbon dioxide or methane pressure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said gases are separated from natural gas and comprise one or more gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, hydrogen sulfide and helium.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said gases are volatile organic compounds.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The process of claim 11 wherein said volatile organic compounds are selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and acetone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said gases comprise a mixture of carbon dioxide and at least one gas selected from hydrogen, flue gas and natural gas.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said gases are a mixture of olefins and paraffins or iso and normal paraffins.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein said gases comprise a mixture of gases selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and oxygen, carbon dioxide and methane, hydrogen and methane or carbon monoxide, helium and methane.