Removal of water and methanol from fluids
US8293112B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D2317/08
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of removing water and/or methanol from fluid mixtures of the water or methanol with other compounds uses vapor permeation or pervaporation of the water or methanol, as the case may be, from the mixture through a membrane having an amorphous perfluoropolymer selectively permeable layer. The novel process can be applied in such exemplary embodiments as (a) removing water or methanol from mixtures of compounds that have relative volatility of about 1-1.1 or that form azeotropic mixtures with water or methanol, (b) the dehydration of hydrocarbon oil such as hydraulic fluid to concentrations of water less than about 50 ppm, (c) removing water and methanol byproducts of reversible chemical reactions thereby shifting equilibrium to favor high conversion of reactants to desirable products, (d) drying ethanol to less than 0.5 wt. % water as can be used in fuel for internal combustion engines, and (e) controlling the water content to optimum concentration in enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions carried out in organic media.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.