	US 12,215,288 B2
	Membranes for contaminant removal from natural gas and methods for use thereof
William Koros, Atlanta, GA (US); Yang Liu, Atlanta, GA (US); Zhongyun Liu, Atlanta, GA (US); Nitesh Bhuwania, San Ramon, CA (US); and Daniel Chinn, San Ramon, CA (US)
Assigned to CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.; and GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
Appl. No. 17/618,381
Filed by CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., San Ramon, CA (US); and GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION, Atlanta, GA (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/036795 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 10, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/251937, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/860,102, filed on Jun. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0306955 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. C10L 3/10 (2006.01); B01D 53/22 (2006.01); B01D 67/00 (2006.01); B01D 69/02 (2006.01); B01D 69/08 (2006.01); B01D 71/64 (2006.01)

CPC C10L 3/103 (2013.01) [B01D 53/228 (2013.01); B01D 67/0093 (2013.01); B01D 69/02 (2013.01); B01D 69/08 (2013.01); B01D 71/64 (2013.01); C10L 3/104 (2013.01); B01D 2256/245 (2013.01); B01D 2257/304 (2013.01); B01D 2257/504 (2013.01); B01D 2325/022 (2013.01); B01D 2325/36 (2013.01); C10L 2290/548 (2013.01)]

19 Claims

1. A membrane for removal of hydrogen sulfide from natural gas, comprising

a membrane comprising a plasticized component comprising an uncrosslinked hydrophilic polymer;

wherein the plasticized component comprises (1) plasticized asymmetric hollow fibers or (2) a nonporous plasticized skin layer;

wherein the membrane comprising the plasticized component comprising the uncrosslinked hydrophilic polymer comprises side functional groups selected from the group consisting of alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids and combinations thereof and removes H2S from a natural gas feed comprising methane and H2S at an H2S/methane selectivity of from 7 to 40 when measured at 35° C. and 45 bar and wherein the membrane comprising the plasticized component comprising the uncrosslinked hydrophilic polymer has increased H2S permeability and H2S/CH4 selectivity as compared to the same membrane without the plasticized component.