TRANSPORT OF BINARY GAS-MIXTURES IN MICROPOROUS MEMBRANES - TRANSIENT-STATE SEPARATION FACTORS

Transient-state separation factors and amounts permeated were calculated as functions of time and over a range of temperatures for transport of some binary gas mixtures through high-area microporous carbon and Vycor porous glass membranes. For many of the mixtures examined, good fractionations were found for the initial portion of the transient-state flow. A fractionation technique is envisaged in which pulses of much enriched component are collected and combined by switching the mixture successively to each of a series of membranes. Some factors affecting the efficiency of such a technique are indicated.