Carbonaceous adsorbent membranes for gas dehydration

Reference Number: N 04-02

Inventors: Rao, Madhukar Bhaskara; Sircar, Shivaji; Golden, Timothy Christopher

Owner: NISTAC

USPTO Link: 6004374

Invention Summary

The invention is a method of making a carbonaceous adsorbent membrane for removing water from a water-containing gas mixture which comprises contacting a hydrophobic carbonaceous adsorbent membrane with an aqueous solution of one or more oxidizing acids and one or more metals selected from the group consisting of copper (+2), chromium (+3), and nickel (+2), removing the resulting treated carbonaceous adsorbent membrane from contact with the solution, washing the treated carbonaceous adsorbent membrane to remove residual solution therefrom, and drying the resulting washed treated carbonaceous adsorbent membrane to yield a hydrophilic carbonaceous adsorbent membrane. Preferably, the contacting is carried out in the temperature range of about 25 to about 100.degree. C. for a duration of about 15 seconds to about 30 minutes.

The one or more metals in solution can be in the form of one or more soluble salts selected from the group consisting of acetate, formate, oxalate, and nitrate. The total concentration of the one or more metals in the solution can be in the range of about 0.1 to about 1.0 molar. Nitric or perchloric acid, or mixtures of these acids, can be used as the oxidizing acids, and the total concentration of these acids in the solution can be in the range of about 20 to about 60 vol %. Other oxidizing acids may be used if desired.