System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes an extractive distillation unit and a membrane. The system also includes a isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes an extractive distillation unit and a membrane. The system also includes a isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

There is provided a process for effecting separation of an operative material from a gaseous feed material by a membrane including a polymer phase and a liquid phase, comprising: over a first time interval, separating at least a separation fraction of the operative material in response to permeation of the at least a separation fraction of the operative material through the membrane, wherein the membrane includes crosslinked polymeric material.

There is provided a process for effecting separation of an operative material from a gaseous feed material by a membrane including a polymer phase and a liquid phase, comprising: over a first time interval, separating at least a separation fraction of the operative material in response to permeation of the at least a separation fraction of the operative material through the membrane, wherein the membrane includes crosslinked polymeric material.

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.

Plant and method for the separation of a gas mixture containing a plurality of gaseous components, comprising first and second membrane-based separation stages and a third gas separation stage with adsorption with oscillating pressure, the first, second and third gas separation stages acting in combination to obtain a first final flow of gas enriched in a first component of the initial gas mixture, for example methane, and a second final flow of gas, enriched in a second component of the initial gas mixture, for example carbon dioxide.

Plant and method for the separation of a gas mixture containing a plurality of gaseous components, comprising first and second membrane-based separation stages and a third gas separation stage with adsorption with oscillating pressure, the first, second and third gas separation stages acting in combination to obtain a first final flow of gas enriched in a first component of the initial gas mixture, for example methane, and a second final flow of gas, enriched in a second component of the initial gas mixture, for example carbon dioxide.

A carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane having improved separation characteristics for separating olefins from their corresponding paraffins is comprised of carbon with at most trace amounts of sulfur and a group 13 metal. The CMS membrane may be made by pyrolyzing a precursor polymer devoid of sulfur in which the precursor polymer has had a group 13 metal incorporated into it, wherein the metal is in a reduced state. The pyrolyzing for the precursor having the group 13 metal incorporated into it is performed in a nonoxidizing atmosphere and at a heating rate and temperature such that the metal in a reduced state (e.g., covalently bonded to carbon or nitrogen or in the metal state).