Process for separating gas by diffusion

Abstract

Abstract There is described the separation of aliphatically-unsaturated hydrocarbons of two to four carbon atoms from gaseous mixtures by the combined use of liquid barrier permeation and metal complexing techniques. The liquid barrier is in contact with a film membrane, and the barrier contains complex-forming metal ions in aqueous solution. The film membrane is contacted with a swelling agent to increase the selectivity of the separation and, preferably, increase permeation by the aliphatically unsaturated hydrocarbon to be separated. The metal ions in the liquid barrier may be, for example, noble metal, nickel, mercurous, cuprous or other metal ions, and mixtures of the metal ions, with or without other cations, may be used. The separation of ethylene from ethane and methane is of particular interest.

Inventors

• 👤 E Steigelmann

Bibliographic Details