Composite carbon fluid separation membranes
AssigneeThe University of Texas System
InventorsWilliam J. Koros, Cheryl W. Jones
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Abstract
The invention provides carbon membranes for use in fluid separation processes, particularly gas separations, which are treated with a coating that provides a protective barrier which significantly limits permeation of water vapor or other impurities such as hydrocarbons without significantly inhibiting permeation of the faster fluid component or lowering selectivity. The composite membranes retain good fluid separation properties and are resistant to the adverse effects on membrane performance commonly observed in environments having high humidity. The coating is preferably an amorphous polymer of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole. The membranes can be of a varied configuration: sheet form, hollow fiber, asymmetrical membranes and the like.
Claims21
A membrane for the separation of fluids comprising a carbon membrane coated with a coating that reduces the partial pressure of water or other condensible agents or impurities relative to the other permeable components and having resistance to the permeation of water or other impurities without causing significant losses to the selectivity or productivity of the membrane.
A membrane for the separation of fluids comprising a carbon membrane coated with a coating of a polymer having an aliphatic ring structure containing fluorine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.