| US 7,497,895 B2 | ||
| Membrane separation process | ||
| Craig Y. Sabottke, Baton Rouge, La. (US) | ||
| Assigned to ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, N.J. (US) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 18, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/283,215. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0114177 A1, May 24, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B01D 53/22 (2006.01); B01D 61/36 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 95—45 [95/46; 95/49; 95/50; 95/52; 95/54; 96/4; 210/640; 210/321.72; 210/188] | 14 Claims |

| 1. A separation process, comprising:
(a) contacting a feed stream with a first surface of a membrane unit containing at least one membrane, with the feed stream
containing at least a first species and a second species;
(b) selectively absorbing at least the first species into the first surface;
(c) selectively permeating at least the first species through the membrane from the first surface to an opposed second surface
using a vacuum on the second surface in order to form a permeate rich in the first species and lean in the second species
compared to the feed stream, the vacuum being produced by a fluid conducted through a converging/diverging nozzle, wherein
the fluid comprises at least one solvent that is poorly miscible with and/or of low solubility in the permeate;
(d) conducting the permeate from the second surface into a heat exchanger whereby the permeate is partially condensed;
(e) conducting the partially condensed permeate into the nozzle and into the fluid in order to form an effluent comprising
at least a portion of the permeate and the fluid; and
(f) separating the permeate from the fluid.
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