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Hydrogen transport membranes
PATENTS
In-line hydration pack biological filter Applicant: Innova Pure Water Inc, USA This portable filtration assembly includes a housing which contains a water inlet port, a water outlet
The subject of patent WO 03/068689 is an in-line hydration pack biological filter.
port and a filter that uses hydrophilic membrane (submicron rated) filter elements. The filter is configured to effect a six log reduction of bacteria (99.9999%) and a four log reduction of protozoa (99.99%) at a flow rate of between 10 ml/s and 30 ml/s, requiring a pressure of between 1.5 psi and 10 psi. The assembly also includes a structure for venting air through the hydrophilic membrane filter elements. In addition, the assembly may include a monolithic radial flow carbon composite filter (also included in the housing). This composite filter is configured to remove at least 80% of chlorine and at least 90% of lead, over a minimum of 40 gallons (151.6 litres), at a flow rate of 10 ml/s, and at a pressure drop of 10 psi, or lower. Patent number: WO 03/068689 Inventor: J.E. Nohren (Jr), B.D. Mierau, J.T. Smith and R.S. Mclennan Publication date: 21 August 2003
Membrane bioreactor Applicant: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek, The Netherlands This patent relates to a membrane bioreactor which is used to purify aqueous liquids. It is composed of a compartment (2) with membranes,
A membrane bioreactor, which can be used to purify aqueous liquids, has been developed. Patent WO 03/072513 provides the details.
Membrane Technology December 2003
in which the purification process takes place under aerobic conditions, and a compartment (1) where anoxic conditions prevail. A mixture of active sludge and the aqueous liquid circulates between the compartments. The anoxic compartment (1) is placed in direct communication with, and below, the aerobic compartment (2). Such a design has the advantage that it is not necessary to use two separated reactors for the aerobic and the anoxic purification process, which enables a high purification efficiency and an effective use of space. This economic use of space results in a smaller ‘footprint’ (the area occupied by the bottom surface of the reactor). There is optimum mixing of water and sludge throughout the content of the reactor, which results in a high sludge concentration. An additional advantage obtained by the vertical flow and aeration of the membranes is that they are less likely to become soiled or clogged. Patent number: WO 03/072513 Inventors: J.W. Van Groenestijn Publication date: 4 September 2003
Proton-conducting electrolyte membrane Applicant: Celanese Ventures GmbH, Germany This invention deals with a proton-conducting electrolyte membrane that is obtained by means of a method which comprises the following steps: swelling a polymer film with a liquid comprising sulphonic acid containing vinyl, and the polymerization of the sulphonic acid that is present in the liquid used in the first step. The membrane that is produced can
be used in a varied manner in a number of applications because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties. The developers of the material say that it is particularly suitable for use as a polymerelectrolyte-membrane in fuel cells. Patent number: WO 03/074597 Inventors: J. Kiefer, O. Uensal, G. Calundann and J. Crivello Publication date: 12 September 2003
Separation of organic flow media Applicant: GKSSForschungszentrum, Germany Disclosed is a device that has been developed especially for the preparation and separation of biologically organic flow media by liquid or gaseous membrane permeation. It comprises a stack that consists of a large number of membrane elements separated from each other by means of a spacer. The medium flows around the membrane elements of the stack. The permeate, delivered by the mem-
brane elements, is collected in at least one element traversing the stack and is removed and channelled away from the device. The spacer element has a larger dimension in the direction of flow of the medium (that is to be separated) than that which is perpendicular to the direction of flow. Patent number: WO 03/074160 Inventors: W. Hilgendorff and N. Scharnagl Publication date: 12 September 2003
Hydrogen transport membranes Applicant: Eltron Research Inc, USA This patent provides details of the way in which the fabrication of composite hydrogen transport membranes can be improved. These membranes are used for extraction of hydrogen from gas mixtures. Methods are described for supporting and re-enforcing layers of metals and metal alloys that have a high permeability to hydrogen, but which are either too thin to be self-supporting, too weak to resist desired differential pressures (across the membrane), or which become embrittled by hydrogen. In order to minimize stress at internal interfaces, which can lead to formation of dislocations and the initiation of cracks, the support material is chosen so as to be lattice matched to the metals and metal alloys. Preferred metals with high permeability for hydro-
gen include vanadium, niobium, tantalum, palladium, and alloys of these. In one embodiment, a porous support matrix is fabricated first, and then the pores are blocked by metals and metal alloys which are permeable to hydrogen. In a second embodiment, powders of the preferred metal are first sintered together to form a porous metal matrix, and the pores of the metal matrix are then blocked with materials which make the membrane impervious to gases other than hydrogen. In a third embodiment, ‘cermets’ (ceramic-metals) are fabricated by sintering together powders of the preferred metals with powders of lattice-matched ceramic to make a dense material impervious to gases other than hydrogen. Patent number: WO 03/076050 Inventor: M. Mundschau Publication date: 18 September 2003
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In-line hydration pack biological filter Applicant: Innova Pure Water Inc, USA This portable filtration assembly includes a housing which contains a water inlet port, a water outlet
The subject of patent WO 03/068689 is an in-line hydration pack biological filter.
port and a filter that uses hydrophilic membrane (submicron rated) filter elements. The filter is configured to effect a six log reduction of bacteria (99.9999%) and a four log reduction of protozoa (99.99%) at a flow rate of between 10 ml/s and 30 ml/s, requiring a pressure of between 1.5 psi and 10 psi. The assembly also includes a structure for venting air through the hydrophilic membrane filter elements. In addition, the assembly may include a monolithic radial flow carbon composite filter (also included in the housing). This composite filter is configured to remove at least 80% of chlorine and at least 90% of lead, over a minimum of 40 gallons (151.6 litres), at a flow rate of 10 ml/s, and at a pressure drop of 10 psi, or lower. Patent number: WO 03/068689 Inventor: J.E. Nohren (Jr), B.D. Mierau, J.T. Smith and R.S. Mclennan Publication date: 21 August 2003
Membrane bioreactor Applicant: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek, The Netherlands This patent relates to a membrane bioreactor which is used to purify aqueous liquids. It is composed of a compartment (2) with membranes,
A membrane bioreactor, which can be used to purify aqueous liquids, has been developed. Patent WO 03/072513 provides the details.
Membrane Technology December 2003
in which the purification process takes place under aerobic conditions, and a compartment (1) where anoxic conditions prevail. A mixture of active sludge and the aqueous liquid circulates between the compartments. The anoxic compartment (1) is placed in direct communication with, and below, the aerobic compartment (2). Such a design has the advantage that it is not necessary to use two separated reactors for the aerobic and the anoxic purification process, which enables a high purification efficiency and an effective use of space. This economic use of space results in a smaller ‘footprint’ (the area occupied by the bottom surface of the reactor). There is optimum mixing of water and sludge throughout the content of the reactor, which results in a high sludge concentration. An additional advantage obtained by the vertical flow and aeration of the membranes is that they are less likely to become soiled or clogged. Patent number: WO 03/072513 Inventors: J.W. Van Groenestijn Publication date: 4 September 2003
Proton-conducting electrolyte membrane Applicant: Celanese Ventures GmbH, Germany This invention deals with a proton-conducting electrolyte membrane that is obtained by means of a method which comprises the following steps: swelling a polymer film with a liquid comprising sulphonic acid containing vinyl, and the polymerization of the sulphonic acid that is present in the liquid used in the first step. The membrane that is produced can
be used in a varied manner in a number of applications because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties. The developers of the material say that it is particularly suitable for use as a polymerelectrolyte-membrane in fuel cells. Patent number: WO 03/074597 Inventors: J. Kiefer, O. Uensal, G. Calundann and J. Crivello Publication date: 12 September 2003
Separation of organic flow media Applicant: GKSSForschungszentrum, Germany Disclosed is a device that has been developed especially for the preparation and separation of biologically organic flow media by liquid or gaseous membrane permeation. It comprises a stack that consists of a large number of membrane elements separated from each other by means of a spacer. The medium flows around the membrane elements of the stack. The permeate, delivered by the mem-
brane elements, is collected in at least one element traversing the stack and is removed and channelled away from the device. The spacer element has a larger dimension in the direction of flow of the medium (that is to be separated) than that which is perpendicular to the direction of flow. Patent number: WO 03/074160 Inventors: W. Hilgendorff and N. Scharnagl Publication date: 12 September 2003
Hydrogen transport membranes Applicant: Eltron Research Inc, USA This patent provides details of the way in which the fabrication of composite hydrogen transport membranes can be improved. These membranes are used for extraction of hydrogen from gas mixtures. Methods are described for supporting and re-enforcing layers of metals and metal alloys that have a high permeability to hydrogen, but which are either too thin to be self-supporting, too weak to resist desired differential pressures (across the membrane), or which become embrittled by hydrogen. In order to minimize stress at internal interfaces, which can lead to formation of dislocations and the initiation of cracks, the support material is chosen so as to be lattice matched to the metals and metal alloys. Preferred metals with high permeability for hydro-
gen include vanadium, niobium, tantalum, palladium, and alloys of these. In one embodiment, a porous support matrix is fabricated first, and then the pores are blocked by metals and metal alloys which are permeable to hydrogen. In a second embodiment, powders of the preferred metal are first sintered together to form a porous metal matrix, and the pores of the metal matrix are then blocked with materials which make the membrane impervious to gases other than hydrogen. In a third embodiment, ‘cermets’ (ceramic-metals) are fabricated by sintering together powders of the preferred metals with powders of lattice-matched ceramic to make a dense material impervious to gases other than hydrogen. Patent number: WO 03/076050 Inventor: M. Mundschau Publication date: 18 September 2003
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