Process for making hollow fiber mixed matrix membranes

US6663805B1 · 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

• Okan M. Ekiner · Wilmington, US
• Sudhir S. Kulkarni · Jamkhed, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 20, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 16, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 20, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S55/05
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Isopycnic or asymmetric mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes for gas separation can be made by a continuous spinning process. Mixed matrix membranes are characterized by a continuous phase of selectively gas permeable polymer in which are uniformly dispersed discrete absorbent particles such as molecular sieves that also have selectivity enhancing properties. The fibers can be monolithic in which the fiber wall is entirely mixed matrix, or composite in which an active mixed matrix layer is positioned adjacent to a supporting substrate layer. The novel mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes provide higher selectivity than dense film membranes of the continuous phase polymer.