Composite membrane, method of preparation and use
AssigneeMembrane Technology and Research, Inc.
InventorsIngo Blume, Ingo Pinnau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A membrane for gas separation or pervaporation. The membrane is a composite of a microporous support membrane and an ultrathin permselective membrane, the permselective membrane being made from a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the general form: ##STR1## where PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer. The membrane is particularly useful in separating polar gases from non-polar gases.
Claims30
A process for separating a component of a first fluid mixture, comprising the steps of:
- bringing said first fluid mixture into contact with the feed side of a separation membrane, said separation membrane comprising a composite of a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective membrane, said permselective membrane comprising a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR4## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer, wherein said separation membrane exhibits a selectivity as measured with pure gases from carbon dioxide over hydrogen of at least 5.5;
- and
- withdrawing from the permeate side of said separation membrane a second fluid mixture wherein the proportion of said component is enriched, compared with said first fluid mixture.
A process for separating a component of a first fluid mixture, comprising the steps of:
- bringing said first fluid mixture into contact with a feed side of an article of manufacture, said article comprising a laminate of a first microporous support layer coated with a second layer comprising a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR5## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer, wherein said second layer has a thickness less than 10 .mu.m, and wherein said article exhibits a faster permeation rate for one component of a fluid mixture than for another component of said fluid mixture;
- and
- withdrawing from a permeate side of said article a second fluid mixture wherein the proportion of said component is enriched, compared with said first fluid mixture.
A process for separating a component of a first fluid mixture, comprising the steps of:
- bringing said first fluid mixture into contact with the feed side of a separation membrane, said separation memebrane comprising a composite of a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective membrane, said permselective membrane comprising a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR6## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer, wherein said composite is prepared by applying a solution of said polyamide-polyether block copolymer to one side of said microporous support membrane;
- and
- withdrawing from the permeate side of said separation membrane a second fluid mixture wherein the proportion of said component is enriched, compared with said first fluid mixture.
An article of manufacture, comprising a laminate of a first microporous support layer coated with a second layer comprising a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR7## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer, wherein said second laye has a thickness less than 10 .mu.m, and wherein said article exhibits a faster permeation rate for one component of a fluid mixture than for another component of said fluid mixture.
A separation membrane comprising a composite of a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective membrane, said permselective membrane comprising a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR8## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer, wherein said composite is prepared by applying a solution of said polyamide-polyether block copolymer to one side of said microporous support membrane.
A separation membrane comprising a composite of a microporous support membrane coated with a permselective membrane, said permselective membrane comprising a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR9## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer, wherein said separation membrane exhibits a selectivity as measured with pure gases for carbon dioxide over hydrogen of at least 5.5.
A process for producing a separation membrane comprising the steps of:
- dissolving a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having the formula:
- ##STR10## wherein PA is a saturated aliphatic polyamide segment, PE is a polyether segment, and n is a positive integer in a solvent;
- coating the resultant solution on a microporous support membrane;
- and drying the coated support membrane to evaporate said solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.