Gas separation membrane with organosilicon-treated molecular sieve

US6508860B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude · FR

Inventors

• Sudhir S. Kulkarni · Jamkhed, IN
• David J. Hasse · Middletown, US
• David Richard Corbin · New Castle, US
• Aspi N. Patel · Newark, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 21, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 21, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01D2323/21
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A mixed matrix membrane for gas separations is provided with a nonporous continuous phase of a polymer and a dispersed phase of molecular sieve particles reacted with a monofunctional organosilicon compound. The monofunctional organosilicon compound is characterized by (a) at least one silicon substituent group which reacts or is compatible with the polymer, and (b) at most one displaceable radical that can react with the molecular sieve. A process for making a selectively gas permeable mixed matrix membrane involves reacting a molecular sieve with the monofunctional organosilicon compound, uniformly dispersing the reacted sieve with a polymer, and forming the resulting mixed matrix composition into a membrane structure. These mixed matrix membranes provide an improved combination of permeability and selectivity as compared to polymer-only membranes and mixed matrix membranes in which the molecular sieve is not reacted with a monofunctional organosilicon compound.