Filing Information

Inventor(s)	John W. Simmons ·
Assignee(s)	L'Air Liquide-Societe Anoyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Elwood L. Haynes ·
Primary Examiner	Robert H. Spitzer ·
Application Number	US10388970
Filing date	03/13/2003
Issue date	03/01/2005
Prior Publication Data	US20040025689 - 02/12/2004
Predicted expiration date	03/13/2023
U.S. Classifications	95/49  · 96/7  · 96/4  · 95/52  · 96/13  · 96/14  · 95/51  ·
International Classifications	--
Kind Code	B2
International Classifications	95 45 · 95 49 · 95 51 · 95 52 · 96 4 · 96 7 · 96 11- 14 ·
Related U.S. Application Data	RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/368,471 filed Mar. 28, 2002.

Patent Family

Abstract

Gas separation membranes formed from polyester-polyether block copolymers which are useful for separating gases from gas mixtures. The membranes and processes are especially suited for separating polar gases from mixtures that contain polar and non-polar species. The novel membranes exhibit good permeability and permselectivity as well as durability, making them well suited for industrial applications such as removal of acid gases from natural gas and removal of carbon dioxide from synthesis gas.

Independent Claims | See all claims (49)

1. 1. A process for separating component gases of a gas mixture comprising the steps of: a) providing a permeable membrane comprising a polyester-polyether block copolymer comprising repeating units of a polymer soft segment of formula (Is) and a polymer hard segment of formula (Ih): wherein Ra is an aliphatic or aromatic radical; s denotes soft; h denotes hard; (PE) is a polyether segment; and Rd is a linear or branched aliphatic radical; b) contacting a first side of the membrane with a feed gas mixture; and c) causing a component of said feed gas mixture to selectively permeate through said permeable membrane, thereby forming on a second side of the membrane a permeate composition which has a greater concentration of said component than that of said feed mixture.
2. 26. A permeable membrane for separating and/or concentrating gases comprising: a permeable membrane comprising a polyester-polyether block copolymer, wherein said polyester-polyether block copolymer comprises repeating units of a polymer soft segment of formula (Is) and a polymer hard segment of formula (Ih): wherein Ra is an aliphatic or aromatic radical; s denotes soft; h denotes hard; (PE) is a polyether segment; and Rd is a linear or branched aliphatic radical.
3. 40. A block copolymer membrane for separating and/or concentrating gases comprising: a permeable membrane comprising a polyester-polyether block copolymer, wherein said polyester-polyether block copolymer comprises repeating units of polymer soft segments of formula (Is) and polymer hard segments of formula (Ih): wherein Ra of formulae (Is) and (Ih) is an aliphatic or aromatic radical; s denotes soft; h denotes hard; (PE) is a polyether segment; Rd of formula (Ih) is a linear or branched aliphatic radical.