A semi-porous composite membrane and a method of manufacturing the semi-porous composite membrane. The semi-porous composite membrane includes a base supporting substrate comprising α-Al.sub.2O.sub.3, an outer layer comprising silica, and an intermediate layer comprising crystalline fibers of boehmite, and at least one of a secondary metal oxide and a synthetic polymer, wherein the intermediate layer is disposed between the base supporting substrate and the outer layer. The crystalline fibers of boehmite are a length of 5-150 nm. The semi-porous composite membrane may be employed in membrane reactors.

Embodiments of gas concentrating systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, for example, a plurality of modules connectable and disconnectable from each other to thereby adjust the (gas) capacity and modality of the connected system. In this manner, a user need not maintain one system for on the go (ambulatory) scenarios and a wholly second system for stationary (e.g., at home) scenarios. The systems and methods further provide the ability to gradually upgrade the system capacity consistent with the user's lifestyle and medical needs.

A system and method for prediction of the time to service components for a fleet of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) is disclosed. Each of the POCs include a transmitter to transmit operational data. A network interface is configured to receive operational data from the POCs. A user database contains profiles of users associated with respective POCs. An analysis engine updates the profile of a user associated with a POC in the user database based on received operational data from the POC. The analysis engine determines a similar profile in the user database to the updated profile. The analysis engine predicts a service date for the component of the POC based on the similar profile and the updated profile.

A purification system having pipelines arranged at different levels in a height direction is disclosed. The purification system can include: a first purifier and a second purifier disposed side by side symmetrically; an air input pipeline, an air output pipeline and a waste nitrogen input pipeline, wherein the air input pipeline, the air output pipeline and the waste nitrogen input pipeline are disposed at different heights, the gap between pairs of pipelines being determined so as to facilitate overhaul of three-stem valves, a value W being smaller than a value W when the air input pipeline, the air output pipeline and the waste nitrogen input pipeline are arranged in parallel on the ground, and the purification system further comprises: a three-stem valve platform formed by a framework structure in a number of levels, to facilitate overhaul of the three-stem valves.

A method for producing a gas separation membrane containing fine particles uniformly dispersed in a resin, including the following (A) and (B): (A) a step of mixing the fine particles with a matrix resin, the amount of the fine particles with respect to the entire mass of the mixture being adjusted to 1 mass % to 50 mass %, to thereby prepare a master batch; and (B) a step including dissolving the master batch in a solvent, applying the prepared solution onto a substrate, and evaporating the solvent.

The present invention relates to a method of removing a gas from a mixture. The method includes contacting a silicone membrane with a feed mixture including at least a first gas component and contacting a second side of the membrane with an organosilicon sweep liquid, producing a retentate mixture depleted in the first gas component and an organosilicon sweep liquid enriched in the first gas component. The invention also provides methods of removing a gas from a liquid, and methods of regenerating and recycling an organosilicon sweep liquid.

A system comprising a pumping system configured to pump respective exhaust gases from each of a plurality of chemical etching process chambers and to combine the exhaust gases to provide a combined exhaust gas, and a noble gas recovery system configured to process the combined exhaust gas to remove one or more noble gases therefrom.

The present invention relates to an improved method for removing contaminants from a gaseous stream substantially comprising carbon dioxide. More specifically, the method comprises the step of subjecting the gaseous stream to an absorption step in which the absorbent is liquid carbon dioxide wherein the waste of carbon dioxide is minimized by utilizing a compressing means for generating a pressure difference between two streams in a reboiler.

A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO.sub.2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production process unit are described. The process utilizes a CO.sub.2 recovery system integrated with a PSA system that produces at least two product streams to recover additional hydrogen and CO.sub.2 from the tail gas stream of a hydrogen PSA unit in the hydrogen production process.

A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO.sub.2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production unit are described. The effluent from the hydrogen production unit, which comprises a mixture of gases comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water, and at least one of methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and argon, is sent to a PSA system that produces at least two product streams for separation. The PSA system that produces at least two product streams separates the gas mixture into a high-pressure hydrogen stream enriched in hydrogen, optionally a second gas stream containing the majority of the impurities, and a low-pressure tail gas stream enriched in CO.sub.2 and some impurities. The CO.sub.2-rich tail gas stream is compressed and sent to a CO.sub.2 recovery unit, where a CO.sub.2-enriched stream is recovered. The CO.sub.2-depleted overhead gas stream is recycled to the PSA system that produces at least two product streams.