Membrane for separation of xenon from oxygen and nitrogen and method of using same
US6168649A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC01B2210/0051
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A gas-separation membrane enables the economical separation of noble gases, especially xenon, from oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or mixtures of the latter gases. The membrane of the present invention includes a thin discriminating layer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester, and polyestercarbonate. In the preferred embodiment, the thin discriminating layer includes material selected from the bisphenolic group consisting of 2,2-bis(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, and 9,9-bis(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene. The invention also includes the method of using the membrane, made as described above, either in a single-stage process or in a multiple-stage process, to provide the desired product gas. Several membrane units, made according to the present invention, may be manifolded together so as to operate in a parallel fashion, to provide an increased volume of product gas at the same desired purity. Alternatively, two or more membrane devices may be connected in a series or staged configuration to provide a smaller volume of highly purified product gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.