Susan Lynn Jordan

US Patent:

47551925, Jul 5, 1988

Filed:

Apr 15, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/038392

Inventors:

William J. Koros - Austin TX
Susan M. Jordan - Austin TX
Greg K. Fleming - Austin TX

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

B01D 5322

US Classification:

55 16

Abstract:

Glassy-type gas separating membranes are conditioned to a state of enhanced permeability through controlled sorption of a selected conditioning gas such as CO. sub. 2. Membranes are swelled to a state of plasticity without being rubberized and maintained in this state to allow their permeabilities to settle to a new, higher steady-state value. Upon depressurization, conditioned membranes exhibit enhanced permeability over untreated membranes, without serious loss of permselectivity. Membranes so conditioned must be maintained with a minimum sorption level of a conditioning or maintaining gas pending use to retain their improved characteristics.