A membrane reactor includes a catalyst layer, a separation membrane, and a buffer layer. The catalyst layer contains a catalyst for promoting a conversion reaction from a feed gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxide to a liquid fuel. The separation membrane is permeable to water vapor which is a byproduct of the conversion reaction. The buffer layer is disposed between the separation membrane and the catalyst layer, and permeable to the water vapor toward the separation membrane.

The present invention provides: a gas separation method which is capable of desirably separating a slight amount of a component from a mixed gas under mild conditions such that the pressure difference between both sides of a gas separation membrane is 1 atmosphere or less; and a gas separation membrane which is suitable for use in this gas separation method. According to the present invention, in a gas separation method wherein a specific gas (A) in a mixed gas, which contains the specific gas (A) at a concentration of 1,000 ppm by mass or less, is selectively permeated with use of a gas separation membrane, an extremely thin gas separation membrane that has a film thickness of 1 μm or less is used, so that the gas (A) is desirably separated under mild conditions such that the pressure difference between both sides of the gas separation membrane is 1 atmosphere or less.

Described herein are separation articles such as, for example, films, membranes and the like separating at least one component from a gaseous mixture comprising two or more components comprising difluoromethane (HFC-32, CH.sub.2F.sub.2) and pentafluoroethane (HFC-125, C.sub.2F.sub.5H). The disclosed articles include a “selective layer” that is selectively permeable for the desired component to be separated from the gas mixture. The selective layer is composed of an amorphous fluorinated copolymer. Optionally, the article may include other layers which serve various purposes such as, for example, a porous support layer, a “gutter layer,” which allows the permeate gas to pass from the selective layer to the porous layer with minimal flow impedance, and a protective layer, which protects the selective layer from fouling. Each component of the separation articles described herein and methods for making and using the same are provided below.

The gas separation membrane element contains a gas separation membrane, and a sealing portion for preventing mixture of a source gas and a specific gas permeated through a gas separation membrane. The gas separation membrane has a first porous layer including a porous membrane, and a hydrophilic resin composition layer disposed on the first porous layer. The sealing portion is a region in which a cured material of a sealant penetrates in at least the first porous layer in the gas separation membrane, and a thermal expansion coefficient A of the sealing portion and a thermal expansion coefficient B of a material forming the first porous layer satisfy a relation (I):
0.35≤A/B≤1.0  (I).

Methods and systems for recovering sulfur dioxide from a Claus unit process emissions stream are provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a process emissions stream from a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device, introducing the emissions stream to an SO.sub.2 removal system, introducing the SO.sub.2 rich stream from the SO.sub.2 removal system to a CO.sub.2 removal system, and introducing an enriched SO.sub.2 stream back to the Claus unit. The SO.sub.2 removal system can include one or more SO.sub.2 selective membranes. The CO.sub.2 removal system can include one or more CO.sub.2 selective membranes.

A crosslinked microporous membrane (crosslinked polymer) composition useful in gas separation, the membrane comprising: (i) an aromatic polymer containing a multiplicity of benzene rings; and (ii) a multiplicity of fluorinated aromatic moieties, each fluorinated aromatic moiety containing at least two separate methylene (—CH.sub.2—) linkages connected to benzene rings on the aromatic polymer; wherein the cross-linked microporous membrane possesses micropores having a pore size of up to 2 nm. Also described are methods for producing the crosslinked polymer and a microporous carbon material produced by pyrolysis of the crosslinked polymer membrane. Also described are methods for using the crosslinked polymer and microporous carbon material for gas or liquid separation, filtration, or purification.

An apparatus and system for separating a liquid from a mixed gas stream includes a porous graphite foam support comprising graphite foam with pores having a first pore size and a membrane support surface. A porous condensation membrane layer is provided on the membrane support surface, and interlocked with the pores of the graphite foam. The condensation membrane layer includes capillary condensation pores having a second pore size that is less than the first pore size. A mixed gas stream passageway is in fluid communication with the condensation membrane layer. A liquid collection assembly collects condensed liquid from the condensation pores and the graphite foam support pores. A gas inlet is provided for flowing the mixed gas stream into the mixed gas stream passageway. A gas outlet is provided for exhausting gas from the mixed gas stream passageway. A method for separating a liquid from a mixed gas stream is also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are ladder polymers comprising fused aromatic and non-aromatic rings. Also disclosed are the manufacture and use of these ladder polymers, e.g., in separation membranes, such as membrane for gas separation.

Hollow fiber membranes, membrane contactors, and related production and use methods. The asymmetric hollow fiber membranes include a porous substrate having a multiplicity of pores and including at least one semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin (co)polymer. A skin layer including at least one polydiorganosiloxane polyoxamide copolymer overlays the porous substrate. The skin layer is less porous than the porous substrate and forms an outer surface of the asymmetric hollow fiber membrane, while the porous substrate forms an inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane. The skin layer is preferably nonporous.

The present invention relates to a method for producing ceramic gas-separation membranes, which comprises depositing, by means of inkjet printing, water-based inks that form layers of a gas separation membrane. More specifically, the method comprises at least the following steps forming a porous support (i) compatible with a functional separation layer; depositing on the support (i), by means of inkjet printing, at least one functional separation layer (ii) formed by at least two inks, and depositing at least one porous catalytic activation layer (iii) on the functional separation layer (ii); and performing at least one heat treatment, which produces sintering. The functional separation layer (ii) is deposited in a manner to produce a surface with fadings, patterns, or combinations thereof he invention also relates to a gas separation membrane produced using the described method.