US3896015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for separating weakly ionizable substances from fluids containing the same
Assignee: Veolia WTS Systems USA Inc
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Filing: 1968-07-24
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1988-07-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention is directed to apparatus and methods for separating weakly ionizable substances from mixtures of the same such as carbon dioxide from an enclosed atmosphere. One method employs a four compartment electrolytic cell comprised of end electrodes, a planar anion exchange membrane therebetween, a corrugated cation exchange membrane between and in contact with the anode electrode and the planar membrane and a corrugated anion exchange membrane between and in contact with the cathode electrode and the planar membrane. The projections of each corrugated membrane make point contact with the adjacently placed electrode and planar membrane to form an anode, stripper, scrubber and cathode compartment. In operation the CO2 contaminated air is passed into the scrubber compartment; water is passed through the remaining compartments and a D.C. current is passed between the electrodes to result in the recovery of partially purified air from the scrubber compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne A Mcrae
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:06
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G32/00; C10G32/02; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/32; B01D53/326; B01D61/00; B01D61/42; B01D61/44; B01D61/445; B01D61/46; B01D61/50; C10G31/00; C10G31/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for separating weakly ionizable substances from fluid mixtures containing the same comprising a pair of electrodes defining an electrolytic unit on its outer ends, three ion exchange membranes between said electrodes defining four compartments, the first and second of said membranes being of a like charge type and different from the charge type of the third membrane, said like charge membranes being adjacent to one another and to the electrode of the opposite charge sign, embossments on at least one of said membranes of like charge, said embossments contacting the other of said membrane of like charge thereby providing a current path from one of said membranes of like charge to the other and defining fluid passage means in the scrubber compartment defined by said like charged membranes, means for passing fluid into and out of said fluid passage means, means for providing electrical current continuity in the remaining compartments and means for passing a direct electric current between said electrodes transversely through said membranes and compartments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for separating weakly ionizable substances from fluid mixtures containing the same comprising a pair of electrodes defining an electrolytic unit on its outer ends, three ion exchange membranes between said electrodes defining four compartments, the first and second of said membranes being of a like charge type and different from the charge type of the third membrane, said like charge membranes being adjacent to one another and to the electrode of the opposite charge sign, embossments on at least one of said membranes of like charge, said embossments contacting the other of said membrane of like charge thereby providing a current path from one of said membranes of like charge to the other and defining fluid passage means in the scrubber compartment defined by said like charged membranes, means for passing fluid into and out of said fluid passage means, means for providing electrical current continuity in the remaining compartments and means for passing a direct electric current between said electrodes transversely through said membranes and compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having the centrally located said second membrane and the anode and cathode electrodes non-embossed, the said first and third membranes being embossed on both surfaces and wherein all of the said elements contact the next adjacent element to form an electrical conducting bridge for passage of direct current from electrode to electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having the centrally located said second membrane embossed on both surfaces and wherein some of said embossments make direct contact with said adjacent first and third membranes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that at least one of said electrodes is embossed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that the embossed membranes are corrugated in design.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that a plurality of said four compartment units are arranged a repeating array in order to provide a multi-unit high-capacity scrubber device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
181 words
A METHOD OF SEPARATING A WEAKLY IONIZABLE SUBSTANCE FROM FLUID MIXTURES CONTAINING THE SAME COMPRISING PASSING SAID FLUID MIXTURE IN THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE THROUGH A SCRUBBER COMPARTMENT OF A FOUR COMPARTMENT ELECTROLYTIC UNIT, SAID UNIT DEFINED ON ITS OUTER ENDS BY ANODE AND CATHODE ELECTRODES, THREE ION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES DEFINING SAID FOUR COMPARTMENTS, THE FIRST AND SECOND OF SAID MEMBRANES BEING OF A LIKE CHARGE TYPE AND DIFFERENT FROM THE CHARGE TYPE OF THE THIRD MEMBRANE, SAID LIKE CHARGED MEMBRANES BEING ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE ELECTRODE OF THE OPPOSITE CHARGE SIGN, SAID MEMBRANES OF LIKE CHARGE THEREBY FORMING A SCRUBBER COMPARTMENT THERE-BETWEEN, EMBOSSMENTS ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBRANES OF LIKE CHARGE, SAID EMBOSSMENTS CONTACTING AT LEAST THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBRANE OF LIKE CHARGE THEREBY PROVIDING A CURRENT PATH AND A WATER THROUGH THE ANODE AND CATHODE COMPARTMENTS, PASSING A DIRECT ELECTRIC CUREENT BETWEEN THE LECTRODES TRANSVERSELY A DIRECT ELECTRIC CURRENT ETWEEN THE ELECTRODES TRANSVERSELY THROUGH ALL FOUR COMPARTMENTS, REMOVING AT LEAST PART OF SAID WEAKLY IONIZABLE SUBSTANCE FROM THE STRIPPER COMPARTMENT
Claim 9
Independent Claim
181 words
A METHOD OF SEPARATING A WEAKLY IONIZABLE SUBSTANCE FROM FLUID MIXTURES CONTAINING THE SAME COMPRISING PASSING SAID FLUID MIXTURE IN THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE THROUGH A SCRUBBER COMPARTMENT OF A FOUR COMPARTMENT ELECTROLYTIC UNIT, SAID UNIT DEFINED ON ITS OUTER ENDS BY ANODE AND CATHODE ELECTRODES, THREE ION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES DEFINING SAID FOUR COMPARTMENTS, THE FIRST AND SECOND OF SAID MEMBRANES BEING OF A LIKE CHARGE TYPE AND DIFFERENT FROM THE CHARGE TYPE OF THE THIRD MEMBRANE, SAID LIKE CHARGED MEMBRANES BEING ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE ELECTRODE OF THE OPPOSITE CHARGE SIGN, SAID MEMBRANES OF LIKE CHARGE THEREBY FORMING A SCRUBBER COMPARTMENT THERE-BETWEEN, EMBOSSMENTS ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBRANES OF LIKE CHARGE, SAID EMBOSSMENTS CONTACTING AT LEAST THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBRANE OF LIKE CHARGE THEREBY PROVIDING A CURRENT PATH AND A WATER THROUGH THE ANODE AND CATHODE COMPARTMENTS, PASSING A DIRECT ELECTRIC CUREENT BETWEEN THE LECTRODES TRANSVERSELY A DIRECT ELECTRIC CURRENT ETWEEN THE ELECTRODES TRANSVERSELY THROUGH ALL FOUR COMPARTMENTS, REMOVING AT LEAST PART OF SAID WEAKLY IONIZABLE SUBSTANCE FROM THE STRIPPER COMPARTMENT
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the weakly ionizable substance of the fluid mixture is acidic and wherein said ion-exchange membranes of like charge are anion selective.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the fluid mixture is air with excess CO2 therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the weakly ionizable substance is hydrogen sulfide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the weakly ionizable substance of the fluid mixture is mercaptans.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the weakly ionizable substance of the fluid mixture is basic and wherein said ion-exchange membranes of like charge are cation selective.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the fluid mixture includes ammonia as the weakly ionizable basic substance.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |