# US 8,540,806 B2 · Drying substances, preparation and use thereof

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- Number: US 8,540,806 B2
- Document ID: US8540806B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/732,995
- Filed: 2013-01-02
- Published: 2013-05-09
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-03-03
- Assignees: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
- Applicants: Oridion Medical (1987) Ltd.
- Inventors: Amos Ophir; Eyal Cohen; David Dishon; Joshua Lewis Colman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540806B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
- B01D 61/362: {Pervaporation}
- B01D 67/00091: {by evaporation}
- B01D 67/00931: {by introduction of specific groups after membrane formation, e.g. by grafting}
- B01D 69/04: Tubular membranes
- B01D 69/046: {characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the tube}
- B01D 69/1411: {containing dispersed material in a continuous matrix}
- B01D 71/261: {Polyethylene}
- B01D 71/262: {Polypropylene}
- B01D 71/281: {Polystyrene}
- B01D 71/32: containing fluorine atoms
- B01D 71/34: Polyvinylidene fluoride
- B01D 71/4011: {Polymethylmethacrylate}
- B01D 2323/30: Cross-linking
- B01D 2323/38: Graft polymerization
- B01D 2325/14: Membrane materials having negatively charged functional groups
- Y10T 428/1376: Foam or porous material containing
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

There is provided herein a dryer polymer substance including a hetero-phase polymer composition including two or more polymers wherein at least one of the two or more polymers include sulfonic groups, wherein the substance is adapted to pervaporate a fluid. The fluid may include water, water vapor or both. There is also provided herein a process for the preparation of a dryer polymer substance adapted to pervaporate a fluid (such as water, water vapor or both) the process includes mixing two or more polymers, wherein at least one of the two or more polymers may include groups which are adapted to be sulfonated, to produce a hetero-phase polymer composition and processing the polymer blend into a desired form.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dryer polymer tube comprising:
a hetero-phase polymer composition comprising two or more polymers and a compatibilizing agent; wherein at least one of said two or more polymers comprises sulfonated groups, wherein said compatibilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS); and wherein the tube is adapted to pervaporate water, water vapor or both from a gas while maintaining the concentration of CO2, O2 or both in said gas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said hetero-phase polymer composition has an essentially co-continuous phase structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more polymers comprises a polyolefin, a fluoro-polymer or a combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 3, wherein said fluoro-polymer comprises poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) or any derivative thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymer comprising sulfonic groups comprises sulfonated polystyrene, sulfonated styrene copolymer or any mixture or derivative thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 5, wherein said styrene copolymer is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube has a water uptake of over 100% at a temperature of 22° C. and at 34% humidity, wherein the internal diameter of the tube is 1.0±0.1 millimeter (mm); the outer diameter of the tube is 1.24±0.02 mm and the length of the tube is 50 MM.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube has a water evaporation rate of over 150 micro-liter/hour at a temperature of 22° C. and at 34% humidity, wherein the internal diameter of the tube is 1.0±0.1 millimeter (mm); the outer diameter of the tube is 1.24±0.02 mm and the length of the tube is 50 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube has an essentially circular internal cross-section.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube has an essentially circular internal cross-section and a non-circular external cross-section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube has a non-circular internal cross-section and an essentially circular external cross-section.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube has a non-circular internal cross-section and a matching non-circular external cross-section.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 1, wherein said dryer polymer tube comprises an inner conduit, wherein the internal cross-section of at least a portion of said inner conduit is essentially non-circular and adapted to collect liquids in proximity to the inner walls of said inner conduit and thus allow an essentially free of liquids flow in said dryer tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 13, wherein said cross section of said inner conduit is essentially similar to an n-point star, wherein n is an integer having the value of between 2-10.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The dryer polymer tube according to claim 13, wherein said cross section of said inner conduit is essentially similar to an n-petal flower, wherein n is an integer having the value of between 2-10.