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Gas exchange
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usually needed for conventional galvanic techniques. The support for the catalytic layer is first capacitatively charged (pseudo-capacitance). When brought into contact with an electrolyte solution, comprising the catalyst in the form of dissolved metal salt ions, an in situ reduction (deposition) of the metal salt ions to give metallic catalyst occurs at the site of contact. Patent number: WO 02/45195 Inventors: R. Hempelmann, H. Schmitz, M.-S. Löffler, H. Natter, J. Divisek Publication date: 6 June 2002
Fluorosulfonyl fluoride compound production Applicant: Asahi Glass Co, Ltd, Japan A process by which a fluorosulfonyl fluoride compound (which is useful as, for example, a material for ion-exchange membranes) can be produced efficiently, and at a low cost, without structural limitations while eliminating difficulties in production is the subject of this patent. The process involves reacting XSO2RA-E1 with RB-E2 to obtain XSO2RA-E-RB, and reacting this compound with fluorine (in a liquid phase) to obtain FSO2RAF-EF-RBF, and finally decomposing this compound to obtain FSO2RAF-EF1. In the formulae, RA represents a divalent organic group; E1 represents a monovalent reactive group; RB represents a monovalent organic group; E2 represents a monovalent group reactive with E1; E represents a divalent connecting group formed by the reaction of E1 with E2; RAF represents a divalent organic group formed by the fluorination of RA; RBF represents the same group as RB; EF represents a divalent connecting group formed by the fluorination of E; EF1 represents a monovalent group formed by the decomposition of EF; and X represents a halogen atom. Patent number: WO 02/44138 Inventors: M. Ito, K. Watanabe, T. Okazoe, I. Kaneko, D. Shirakawa Publication date: 6 June 2002
MF and UF water purification Applicant: Kiwa NV, The Netherlands This invention covers a method of purifying water by means of dead-end filtration using a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane. The filtration process is periodically interrupted to cleanse the membrane, and prior to, at start-up or during each filtration period, a filtration aid is added to the water to be purified. A layer of this filtration aid is deposited on the membrane. The filtration aid comprises an ion-exchange resin that has a particle size of 0.5–50 µm. The filtration aid preferably is added in a high concentration prior to or at the start of each filtration period. With the method that is described in this patent, the water is completely freed (in a single purification step) from suspended and colloidal matter and specific dissolved elements such as hardness, manganese, ammonium, assimilable organic carbon and colour.
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Patent number: WO 02/44091 Inventor: G. Galjaard Publication date: 6 June 2002
Patent number: WO 02/43842 Inventors: J.E. Tomaschke Publication date: 6 June 2002
Electrolytic production of hydrogen
Multifunctional barrier filter
Applicant: RMG Services Pty Ltd, Australia This invention concerns the commercial production of electrolytic hydrogen from coal and other hydrocarbon compounds. The process provides high capacity and low impedance compared with conventional diaphragm electrolytic cells. The hydrogen produced is suitable for combined-cycle gas turbines and fuel cell power generation plants, and for use in transportation vehicles that are powered by proton electrolytic membrane fuel cells. Patent number: WO 02/44081 Inventor: R.A.M. Gomez Publication date: 6 June 2002
Applicant: Millipore Corp, USA A barrier filter, useful for aseptically discharging both gaseous and liquid fluids from a chemical process system is disclosed. The barrier filter comprises, within a common enclosure, one or several filter membranes having singularly or collectively a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. The common enclosure of the barrier filter is provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. All filter membranes are located within the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet. A variety of membrane-based systems, into which such barrier filter is installed, are also discussed in the patent. Patent number: WO 02/43841 Inventors: J.-M. Cappia, S. Proulx, S. Tingley, J. Messing. Publication date: 6 June 2002
Detoxification of blood Applicant: Intech Thüringen GmbH, Germany The invention relates to a material that can be used for the detoxification of blood which contains foreign toxic substances. It comprises at least: one blood-permeable and blood-compatible matrix, in particular, in the form of a membrane, and a molecular sieve, incorporated in the matrix, or produced as a matrix and loaded with a chromatographic solution at a pH value of 7.5 ± 0.5, (in particular in the form of a cationic solution, whereby the chromatographed molecular sieve performs the detoxification of the blood). The above material is characterized in that the chromatographed molecular sieve additionally contains water of crystallization such that it (the sieve) is partially dehydrated in relation to the full molecular amount (m) of water of crystallization. The molecular sieve, with the reduced molecular amount (m´) of water of crystallization, is loaded with the chromatographic solution. The invention further relates to an efficient and easy-toapply method of producing the above material. Patent number: WO 02/43844 Inventors: H.-P. Schmauder, W. Schunk, M. Bruder, K.-H. Krause, G. Merkmann Publication date: 6 June 2002
Low-pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes Applicant: Hydranautics, USA Novel, low pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes, and a process for their preparation have been developed. Polyamide reverse osmosis membranes are contacted with organic sulphonic acid solutions without the need for additional treatment by a rejection enhancing agent. These membranes provide sodium chloride rejections of greater than 20% and water fluxes greater than 15 gallons per square foot per day at a test pressure of 75 psi. Optimally treated membranes, when similarly tested on 0.2% magnesium sulphate, provide rejections greater than 95% with water fluxes greater than 15 gallons per square foot per day.
Gas exchange Applicant: Art of Xen Ltd, UK A method and apparatus for maintaining a gas in a predetermined pressure range during a gasexchange process is described by this patent. The apparatus includes a first conduit, having a gaspermeable membrane wall portion, at least one inlet port for introducing a first gas into the apparatus, and a reservoir arranged to contain the first gas. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for oxygenating an extracorporeal flow of blood. Patent number: WO 02/43792 Inventor: J. Dingley Publication date: 6 June 2002
Methanol sensor Applicant: The Regents of the University of California, USA This sensor outputs a signal related to the concentration of methanol in an aqueous solution. The sensor includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that has a cathode side and an anode side. A cathode current collector supports the cathode side of the MEA, and contains a flow channel which provides access to the cathode side of the MEA for the methanol solution. An anode current collector supports the anode side of the MEA, and is sealed to the MEA to exclude air from the anode side of the MEA. A voltage source is connected to the MEA for electro-oxidation of methanol permeating across the MEA from the aqueous methanol solution to produce an output current that is functionally related to the concentration of methanol in the aqueous solution (without interference of air on the methanol oxidation electrode). Patent number: WO 02/46733 Inventors: X. Ren, S. Gottesfeld Publication date: 13 June 2002
Membrane Technology September 2002
09/09/2002
12:33
Page 14
PATENTS
usually needed for conventional galvanic techniques. The support for the catalytic layer is first capacitatively charged (pseudo-capacitance). When brought into contact with an electrolyte solution, comprising the catalyst in the form of dissolved metal salt ions, an in situ reduction (deposition) of the metal salt ions to give metallic catalyst occurs at the site of contact. Patent number: WO 02/45195 Inventors: R. Hempelmann, H. Schmitz, M.-S. Löffler, H. Natter, J. Divisek Publication date: 6 June 2002
Fluorosulfonyl fluoride compound production Applicant: Asahi Glass Co, Ltd, Japan A process by which a fluorosulfonyl fluoride compound (which is useful as, for example, a material for ion-exchange membranes) can be produced efficiently, and at a low cost, without structural limitations while eliminating difficulties in production is the subject of this patent. The process involves reacting XSO2RA-E1 with RB-E2 to obtain XSO2RA-E-RB, and reacting this compound with fluorine (in a liquid phase) to obtain FSO2RAF-EF-RBF, and finally decomposing this compound to obtain FSO2RAF-EF1. In the formulae, RA represents a divalent organic group; E1 represents a monovalent reactive group; RB represents a monovalent organic group; E2 represents a monovalent group reactive with E1; E represents a divalent connecting group formed by the reaction of E1 with E2; RAF represents a divalent organic group formed by the fluorination of RA; RBF represents the same group as RB; EF represents a divalent connecting group formed by the fluorination of E; EF1 represents a monovalent group formed by the decomposition of EF; and X represents a halogen atom. Patent number: WO 02/44138 Inventors: M. Ito, K. Watanabe, T. Okazoe, I. Kaneko, D. Shirakawa Publication date: 6 June 2002
MF and UF water purification Applicant: Kiwa NV, The Netherlands This invention covers a method of purifying water by means of dead-end filtration using a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane. The filtration process is periodically interrupted to cleanse the membrane, and prior to, at start-up or during each filtration period, a filtration aid is added to the water to be purified. A layer of this filtration aid is deposited on the membrane. The filtration aid comprises an ion-exchange resin that has a particle size of 0.5–50 µm. The filtration aid preferably is added in a high concentration prior to or at the start of each filtration period. With the method that is described in this patent, the water is completely freed (in a single purification step) from suspended and colloidal matter and specific dissolved elements such as hardness, manganese, ammonium, assimilable organic carbon and colour.
14
Patent number: WO 02/44091 Inventor: G. Galjaard Publication date: 6 June 2002
Patent number: WO 02/43842 Inventors: J.E. Tomaschke Publication date: 6 June 2002
Electrolytic production of hydrogen
Multifunctional barrier filter
Applicant: RMG Services Pty Ltd, Australia This invention concerns the commercial production of electrolytic hydrogen from coal and other hydrocarbon compounds. The process provides high capacity and low impedance compared with conventional diaphragm electrolytic cells. The hydrogen produced is suitable for combined-cycle gas turbines and fuel cell power generation plants, and for use in transportation vehicles that are powered by proton electrolytic membrane fuel cells. Patent number: WO 02/44081 Inventor: R.A.M. Gomez Publication date: 6 June 2002
Applicant: Millipore Corp, USA A barrier filter, useful for aseptically discharging both gaseous and liquid fluids from a chemical process system is disclosed. The barrier filter comprises, within a common enclosure, one or several filter membranes having singularly or collectively a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. The common enclosure of the barrier filter is provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. All filter membranes are located within the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet. A variety of membrane-based systems, into which such barrier filter is installed, are also discussed in the patent. Patent number: WO 02/43841 Inventors: J.-M. Cappia, S. Proulx, S. Tingley, J. Messing. Publication date: 6 June 2002
Detoxification of blood Applicant: Intech Thüringen GmbH, Germany The invention relates to a material that can be used for the detoxification of blood which contains foreign toxic substances. It comprises at least: one blood-permeable and blood-compatible matrix, in particular, in the form of a membrane, and a molecular sieve, incorporated in the matrix, or produced as a matrix and loaded with a chromatographic solution at a pH value of 7.5 ± 0.5, (in particular in the form of a cationic solution, whereby the chromatographed molecular sieve performs the detoxification of the blood). The above material is characterized in that the chromatographed molecular sieve additionally contains water of crystallization such that it (the sieve) is partially dehydrated in relation to the full molecular amount (m) of water of crystallization. The molecular sieve, with the reduced molecular amount (m´) of water of crystallization, is loaded with the chromatographic solution. The invention further relates to an efficient and easy-toapply method of producing the above material. Patent number: WO 02/43844 Inventors: H.-P. Schmauder, W. Schunk, M. Bruder, K.-H. Krause, G. Merkmann Publication date: 6 June 2002
Low-pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes Applicant: Hydranautics, USA Novel, low pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes, and a process for their preparation have been developed. Polyamide reverse osmosis membranes are contacted with organic sulphonic acid solutions without the need for additional treatment by a rejection enhancing agent. These membranes provide sodium chloride rejections of greater than 20% and water fluxes greater than 15 gallons per square foot per day at a test pressure of 75 psi. Optimally treated membranes, when similarly tested on 0.2% magnesium sulphate, provide rejections greater than 95% with water fluxes greater than 15 gallons per square foot per day.
Gas exchange Applicant: Art of Xen Ltd, UK A method and apparatus for maintaining a gas in a predetermined pressure range during a gasexchange process is described by this patent. The apparatus includes a first conduit, having a gaspermeable membrane wall portion, at least one inlet port for introducing a first gas into the apparatus, and a reservoir arranged to contain the first gas. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for oxygenating an extracorporeal flow of blood. Patent number: WO 02/43792 Inventor: J. Dingley Publication date: 6 June 2002
Methanol sensor Applicant: The Regents of the University of California, USA This sensor outputs a signal related to the concentration of methanol in an aqueous solution. The sensor includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that has a cathode side and an anode side. A cathode current collector supports the cathode side of the MEA, and contains a flow channel which provides access to the cathode side of the MEA for the methanol solution. An anode current collector supports the anode side of the MEA, and is sealed to the MEA to exclude air from the anode side of the MEA. A voltage source is connected to the MEA for electro-oxidation of methanol permeating across the MEA from the aqueous methanol solution to produce an output current that is functionally related to the concentration of methanol in the aqueous solution (without interference of air on the methanol oxidation electrode). Patent number: WO 02/46733 Inventors: X. Ren, S. Gottesfeld Publication date: 13 June 2002
Membrane Technology September 2002