Gas separation by composite solvent-swollen membranes.

摘要

A composite immobilized liquid membrane suitable for acid gas scrubbing and oxygen/nitrogen separation is disclosed. The membrane is a solvent-swollen polymer and a microporous support, the solvent being selected from a class of highly polar solvents containing at least one atom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur, and having a boiling point of at least 100 DEG C and a solubility parameter of from about 7.5 to about 13.5 (cal/cm<3>-atm)<1/2>. Such solvents are homogeneously distributed through the solvent-swollen polymer from 20% to 95% by weight. The microporous support may be polymeric or inorganic material.