Olefin separation membrane and process
AssigneeMembrane Technology and Research, Inc.
InventorsIngo Pinnau, Lora G. Toy, Carlos Casillas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A membrane and process for separating unsaturated hydrocarbons from fluid mixtures. The membrane and process differ from previously known membranes and processes, in that the feed and permeate streams can both be dry, the membrane need not be water or solvent swollen, and the membrane is characterized by a selectivity for an unsaturated hydrocarbon over a saturated hydrocarbon having the same number of carbon atoms of at least about 20, and a pressure-normalized flux of said unsaturated hydrocarbon of at least about 5.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.3 (STP)/cm.sup.2 .multidot.s.multidot.cmHg, said flux and selectivity being measured with a gas mixture containing said unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbons, and in a substantially dry environment.
Claims35
A separation membrane, comprising a solid solution of an ionic metal salt in a polymer, said membrane being characterized by a selectivity for an unsaturated hydrocarbon over a saturated hydrocarbon having the same number of carbon atoms of at least about 20, and a pressure-normalized flux of said unsaturated hydrocarbon of at least about 5.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.3 (STP)/cm.sup.2 .multidot.s.multidot.cmHg, said flux and selectivity being measured with a gas mixture containing said unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbons, and in a substantially dry environment.
A process for separating an unsaturated hydrocarbon from a feed fluid mixture, comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane comprising a solid solution of an ionic metal salt in a polymer and characterized by a selectivity for ethylene over ethane of at least about 20, and a pressure-normalized ethylene flux of at least about 5.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.3 (STP)/cm.sup.2 .multidot.s.multidot.cmHg, said flux and selectivity being measured with a gas mixture containing ethylene and ethane, and in a substantially dry environment;
- (b) providing a driving force for transmembrane permeation;
- (c) passing said feed fluid mixture across said feed side;
- and
- (d) withdrawing from said permeate side a permeate fluid mixture enriched in said unsaturated hydrocarbon compared with said feed mixture.
A process for separating ethylene from ethane in a feed gas mixture containing both, comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane comprising a solid solution of an ionic metal salt in a polymer and characterized by a selectivity for ethylene over ethane of at least about 20, and a pressure-normalized ethylene flux of at least about 5.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.3 (STP)/cm.sup.2 .multidot.s.multidot.cmHg, said flux and selectivity being measured with a gas mixture containing ethylene and ethane, and in a substantially dry environment;
- (b) providing a driving force for transmembrane permeation;
- (c) passing said feed fluid mixture across said feed side;
- and
- (d) withdrawing a second gas mixture enriched in ethylene compared with said feed gas mixture from said permeate side.
A process for separating propylene from propane in a feed gas mixture containing both, comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, said membrane comprising a solid solution of an ionic metal salt in a polymer and characterized by a selectivity for ethylene over ethane of at least about 20, and a pressure-normalized ethylene flux of at least about 5.times.10.sup.-6 cm.sup.3 (STP)/cm.sup.2 .multidot.s.multidot.cmHg, said flux and selectivity being measured with a gas mixture containing ethylene and ethane, and in a substantially dry environment;
- (b) providing a driving force for transmembrane permeation;
- (c) passing said feed fluid mixture across said feed side;
- and
- (d) withdrawing a second gas mixture enriched in propylene compared with said feed gas mixture from said permeate side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.