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Separating and recovering perfluoro compounds
PATENTS cell containing a semipermeable membrane for performing desalination of the water by passing sea water under pressure through the membrane, a puntp for forcing the pressurized sea water through the membrane :and a mechanisna that drives the pump shaft. The latter comprises a direct-current motor and an alternating-current motor. The two motors drive the pump shaft with a belt. Also part of the system is a clutch which prevents one of the motors from being driven in rotation while the other motor is activated, and drives the pump shaft in rotation. latent number." WO 01/46007 Inventor: P. Wagner Publication date." 28 June 2001
Separating and recovering perfluoro compounds Applicant: Daido Air Products Electronics Inc, Japan A method for separating and recovering a perfluoro compound (PFC) is described. It involves pressurizing a diluted, mixed gas (conrprising a PFC gas and a dilution gas) to a high pressure, contacting the resultant gas with a membrane having a higher permeability for the dilution gas than that for the PFC gas, to separate it into a permeated gas stream, rich in the dilution gas, and an 'unpermeated' gas stream, rich in the PFC gas. It involves contacting the above unpermeated gas stream with a membrane having the above-mentioned function, to again separate it into another permeated gas stream and attother unpermeated gas stream, measuring the pressure, or flow rate, of the this permeated gas stream, controlling its flow rate so that it has a constant value, and recovering the unpermeated gas stream. Details of both the method and the apparatus used to achieve this are given in the patent. The method can be employed to recover a PFC gas (after the above treatment is stabilized in its concentration) even when there is a variation in the concentration of a diluted, mixed gas to be treated, and requires no further expensive analyzers for the concentration. Patent number: WO 01/45826 Inventors: E Kawasaki, R. Matsubayashi Publication date: 28 June 2001
Testing the integrity of a membrane filter Applicant." Zenon Environmental Inc, Canada Details are provided of a means of testing the integrity of a membrane filter. An improvement to an outside/in hollow-fibre membrane filtration system includes a source of suction on the lumens of the membranes or pressure on the outside of the membranes (operable without producing permeate) and an air collector to collect the air that passes from the outside of the membranes to their lumens during an integrity test. A method for testing the integrity of the membranes involves exposing a first side of the membranes to air while a second side of the menrbranes remains exposed to water. A transmembrane pressure forces air through defects of concern in the membranes. Air that passes through a set of membranes is collected and its amotmt is measured and contpared with an acceptable amount of air, to indicate whether or not there is a defect in the set of membranes. Preferably, air is collected from a plurality of membrane units in a 'filtration train', and the amounts collected in this way indicate if one of the membrane units is defective. Patent number." WO 01/45829 Inventors: P Cote, A. Janson, N. Adams Publication date: 28 June 2001
Membrane electrode assembly Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Germany, and Emitec Gesellschaft fiir Emissionstechnologie mbH, Germany This invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, in particular a protonexchange membrane fuel cell, and to a method for producing the assembly. A precious metal is distributed asymmetrically over the membrane according to the requirentents of each area. The production method is characterized in that the electrodes are first coated with the membrane and not vice versa. Patent number: WO 01/48854 Inventors: U. Gebhardt, A. Mattejat, I. Mehltretter, M. Waidhas Publication date: 5 July 2001
Direct methanol fuel cell Rotating membrane Applicant: University of Leeds, UK A rotating membrane conrprising a reaction vessel for accommodating a first phase and at least one mentbrane for accommodating a second phase has been developed. The membrane is adapted to rotate thereby creating a centrifugal force within the second phase so that the second phase is can be dispersed (controllably) into the first phase. The invention also provides for a method of controlled dispersion in the manufacture of a liquid-liquid, liquid-solid, gas-liquid, solid-semi-solid, emulsion or particulate suspension product. Patent number: W O 01/45830 Inventor." R. Williams Publication date: 28 Jtme 2001
MembraneTechnologyNo.139
Applicant." The Regents of the University of California, USA The fuel usage of a direct nrethanol fuel cell is enhanced for improved cell efficiency. Distribution plates at the anode and cathode of the fuel cell are configured to distribute reactants vertically and laterally, uniformly over a catalyzed membrane surface of the fuel cell. A conductive sheet between the anode distribution plate and the anodic membrane surface forms a mass-transport barrier to the methanol fuel that is large relative to the masstransport barrier for a gaseous hydrogen fuel cell. In a preferred embodiment, the distribution plate is a perforated corrugated sheet. The mass-transport barrier may be
conveniently raised by increasing the thickness of the anode conductive sheet adjacent to the membrane surface of the fuel cell. Patent number: W O 01/48853 Inventors: X. Ren, S. Gottesfeld Publication date: 5 July 2001
Sample examination Applicant." Millipore SA, France This concerns a device for the 'microbiological examination' of a sample of liquid. The device described in the patent has an intake body, a filtering membrane and a drainage body with a means of supporting the membrane (on the opposite side from the intake body). These means of support have a concave surface that faces the membrane. The drainage method proposes directly placing the device on a vacuum flask, the flask's stopper is sealed by a rib that tapers towards its end. Patent number: W O 01/48142 Inventor: J. Lemonnier Publication date: 5 July 2001
Microporous membrane Applicant: AEA Technology Pie, UK A porous polymer membrane is made by dissolving a polymer (consisting primarily of vinylidcne fluoride) in a suitable liquid, and casting the polymer solution to form a thin layer mt a substrate, and their slowly evaporating the liquid phase (without contacting the layer with any other liquids) so that a substantially uniform microporous membrane of polymer is formed. The liquid may contprise a solvent for the polymer, combined with a small proportion of a nonsolvent which dissolves in the solvent. Alternatively the liquid may be a latent solvent. The evaporation process may be performed at a temperature above antbient temperature, and involves exposing the film to dry gas. The microporous membrane or fihn may be used to form a solid electrolyte for a lithium cell, by soaking it in a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte. The film combines with the electrolyte solution to form a solid electrolyte, or a gelled electrolyte. Patent number." WO 01/48063 Inventors: E Coowar, E. Kronfli Publication date: 5 July 2001
Preparing fluorosulfonyl imide monomer Applicant: E.I. Dupont De Nemours and Company, USA Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a fluorosulfonyl imide monomer. Such monomers are useful for forming ionomers that can be used in electrochemical applications such as batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis cells, ion-exchange membranes, sensors, electrochemical capacitors, strong acid catalysts and modified electrodes. Patent number: WO 01/47872 Inventor" K.A.H. Blau Publication date: 5 July 200I
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Separating and recovering perfluoro compounds Applicant: Daido Air Products Electronics Inc, Japan A method for separating and recovering a perfluoro compound (PFC) is described. It involves pressurizing a diluted, mixed gas (conrprising a PFC gas and a dilution gas) to a high pressure, contacting the resultant gas with a membrane having a higher permeability for the dilution gas than that for the PFC gas, to separate it into a permeated gas stream, rich in the dilution gas, and an 'unpermeated' gas stream, rich in the PFC gas. It involves contacting the above unpermeated gas stream with a membrane having the above-mentioned function, to again separate it into another permeated gas stream and attother unpermeated gas stream, measuring the pressure, or flow rate, of the this permeated gas stream, controlling its flow rate so that it has a constant value, and recovering the unpermeated gas stream. Details of both the method and the apparatus used to achieve this are given in the patent. The method can be employed to recover a PFC gas (after the above treatment is stabilized in its concentration) even when there is a variation in the concentration of a diluted, mixed gas to be treated, and requires no further expensive analyzers for the concentration. Patent number: WO 01/45826 Inventors: E Kawasaki, R. Matsubayashi Publication date: 28 June 2001
Testing the integrity of a membrane filter Applicant." Zenon Environmental Inc, Canada Details are provided of a means of testing the integrity of a membrane filter. An improvement to an outside/in hollow-fibre membrane filtration system includes a source of suction on the lumens of the membranes or pressure on the outside of the membranes (operable without producing permeate) and an air collector to collect the air that passes from the outside of the membranes to their lumens during an integrity test. A method for testing the integrity of the membranes involves exposing a first side of the membranes to air while a second side of the menrbranes remains exposed to water. A transmembrane pressure forces air through defects of concern in the membranes. Air that passes through a set of membranes is collected and its amotmt is measured and contpared with an acceptable amount of air, to indicate whether or not there is a defect in the set of membranes. Preferably, air is collected from a plurality of membrane units in a 'filtration train', and the amounts collected in this way indicate if one of the membrane units is defective. Patent number." WO 01/45829 Inventors: P Cote, A. Janson, N. Adams Publication date: 28 June 2001
Membrane electrode assembly Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Germany, and Emitec Gesellschaft fiir Emissionstechnologie mbH, Germany This invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, in particular a protonexchange membrane fuel cell, and to a method for producing the assembly. A precious metal is distributed asymmetrically over the membrane according to the requirentents of each area. The production method is characterized in that the electrodes are first coated with the membrane and not vice versa. Patent number: WO 01/48854 Inventors: U. Gebhardt, A. Mattejat, I. Mehltretter, M. Waidhas Publication date: 5 July 2001
Direct methanol fuel cell Rotating membrane Applicant: University of Leeds, UK A rotating membrane conrprising a reaction vessel for accommodating a first phase and at least one mentbrane for accommodating a second phase has been developed. The membrane is adapted to rotate thereby creating a centrifugal force within the second phase so that the second phase is can be dispersed (controllably) into the first phase. The invention also provides for a method of controlled dispersion in the manufacture of a liquid-liquid, liquid-solid, gas-liquid, solid-semi-solid, emulsion or particulate suspension product. Patent number: W O 01/45830 Inventor." R. Williams Publication date: 28 Jtme 2001
MembraneTechnologyNo.139
Applicant." The Regents of the University of California, USA The fuel usage of a direct nrethanol fuel cell is enhanced for improved cell efficiency. Distribution plates at the anode and cathode of the fuel cell are configured to distribute reactants vertically and laterally, uniformly over a catalyzed membrane surface of the fuel cell. A conductive sheet between the anode distribution plate and the anodic membrane surface forms a mass-transport barrier to the methanol fuel that is large relative to the masstransport barrier for a gaseous hydrogen fuel cell. In a preferred embodiment, the distribution plate is a perforated corrugated sheet. The mass-transport barrier may be
conveniently raised by increasing the thickness of the anode conductive sheet adjacent to the membrane surface of the fuel cell. Patent number: W O 01/48853 Inventors: X. Ren, S. Gottesfeld Publication date: 5 July 2001
Sample examination Applicant." Millipore SA, France This concerns a device for the 'microbiological examination' of a sample of liquid. The device described in the patent has an intake body, a filtering membrane and a drainage body with a means of supporting the membrane (on the opposite side from the intake body). These means of support have a concave surface that faces the membrane. The drainage method proposes directly placing the device on a vacuum flask, the flask's stopper is sealed by a rib that tapers towards its end. Patent number: W O 01/48142 Inventor: J. Lemonnier Publication date: 5 July 2001
Microporous membrane Applicant: AEA Technology Pie, UK A porous polymer membrane is made by dissolving a polymer (consisting primarily of vinylidcne fluoride) in a suitable liquid, and casting the polymer solution to form a thin layer mt a substrate, and their slowly evaporating the liquid phase (without contacting the layer with any other liquids) so that a substantially uniform microporous membrane of polymer is formed. The liquid may contprise a solvent for the polymer, combined with a small proportion of a nonsolvent which dissolves in the solvent. Alternatively the liquid may be a latent solvent. The evaporation process may be performed at a temperature above antbient temperature, and involves exposing the film to dry gas. The microporous membrane or fihn may be used to form a solid electrolyte for a lithium cell, by soaking it in a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte. The film combines with the electrolyte solution to form a solid electrolyte, or a gelled electrolyte. Patent number." WO 01/48063 Inventors: E Coowar, E. Kronfli Publication date: 5 July 2001
Preparing fluorosulfonyl imide monomer Applicant: E.I. Dupont De Nemours and Company, USA Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a fluorosulfonyl imide monomer. Such monomers are useful for forming ionomers that can be used in electrochemical applications such as batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis cells, ion-exchange membranes, sensors, electrochemical capacitors, strong acid catalysts and modified electrodes. Patent number: WO 01/47872 Inventor" K.A.H. Blau Publication date: 5 July 200I
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