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AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsGopal H. Singhal, Martin L. Gorbaty, Richard M. Minday, Norman N. Li
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This invention relates to novel liquid membrane formulations which are water-in-oil emulsions wherein the oil phase comprises a sulfonated polymer having a backbone which is substantially nonaromatic, for example, less than 10 mole % aromatic, and uses thereof in high temperature liquid membrane processes. The emulsions are useful in liquid membrane water treating processes, especially in water treating processes which are desirably run at high temperatures. In the most preferred embodiment, these compositions are used in a liquid membrane sour water treating process wherein a waste water stream containing ammonium sulfide is contacted with a liquid membrane emulsion, i.e. the emulsions of the instant invention, at conditions whereby ammonia permeates through the external phase of the emulsion into an acidic internal phase wherein it is converted to a nonpermeable form, e.g. ammonium ion, while H.sub.2 S is continuously stripped out of the waste water solution by means of an inert gas, e.g. steam. Processes of this sort are most effectivey carried out at temperatures greater than 80.degree. C. wherein the emulsions of the instant invention have excellent stability.
A process for the removal of the salts of a weak acid and a weak base from an aqueous solution which comprises contacting said solution with a water-in-oil emulsion, said emulsion comprising from 10 to 90 weight % of an oil exterior phase, the balance of the emulsion being an aqueous interior phase, said exterior phase being characterized as immiscible with said solution and permeable to said weak base, said exterior phase comprising a sulfonated polymer and a solvent for said polymer, said sulfonated polymer having an average molecular weight of at least 1,000, said sulfonated polymer comprising a substantially nonaromatic backbone and from 0.25 to 20 mole % sulfonic acid groups, said polymer being present in said exterior phase from 0.05 to 40 weight % based upon solvent weight, said interior phase comprising a reactant which is capable of converting said weak base to a nonpermeable form, whereby said weak base permeates through said exterior phase into said interior phase wherein it is converted to a nonpermeable form, and removing said weak acid by passing an inert gas through said solution or subjecting the system to subatmospheric pressures.
A process for the removal of the salts of a weak acid and a weak base from an aqueous solution which comprises contacting said solution with a water-in-oil emulsion, said emulsion comprising from 10 to 90 weight % of an oil exterior phase, the balance of the emulsion being an aqueous interior phase, said exterior phase being characterized as immiscible with said solution and permeable to said weak acid, said exterior phase comprising a sulfonated polymer and a solvent for said polymer, said sulfonated polymer having an average molecular weight of at least 1,000, said sulfonated polymer comprising a substantially nonaromatic backbone and from 0.25 to 20 mole % sulfonic acid groups, said polymer being present in said exterior phase from 0.05 to 40 weight % based upon solvent weight, said interior phase comprising a reactant which is capable of converting said weak acid to a nonpermeable form, whereby said weak acid permeates through said exterior phase into said interior phase wherein it is converted to a nonpermeable form, and removing said weak base by passing an inert gas through said solution or subjecting the system to subatmospheric pressures.
A process for the removal of a dissolved species from an aqueous solution which comprises contacting said aqueous solution with a water-in-oil emulsion, said emulsion comprising from 10 to 90 weight % of an oil exterior phase, the balance of the emulsion being an aqueous interior phase, said exterior phase being characterized as immiscible with said solution and permeable to said dissolved species, said exterior phase comprising a sulfonated polymer and a solvent for said polymer, said sulfonated polymer having an average molecular weight of at least 1,000, said polymer comprising a substantially nonaromatic backbone and from 0.25 to 20 mole % sulfonic acid groups, said polymer being present in said exterior phase from 0.05 to 40 weight % based upon solvent weight;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.