IP Library Granted Patent US 12,516,192
Granted Patent B2
US 12,516,192 · App. 17/992,228 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Modified siloxane rubbery composite membranes for C

Inventors: Junyan Yang (Acton, MA); Milind M. Vaidya (Dhahran, SA)
Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
C08L83/06B01D53/228B01D69/02B01D69/10B01D69/125B01D71/70B01D2257/702B01D2323/12B01D2323/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,516,192
App. No.
17/992,228
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to siloxane membrane materials and polymeric membranes containing the siloxane membrane materials. The siloxane membrane materials are crosslinked with silanol polymers having backbones functionalized with bulky or rigid substituents. This disclosure also relates to methods of using the membranes for natural gas liquid recovery, such as removal and recovery of C 3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.

Claims (61)

1 . A polymer material comprising a repeat unit of Formula (I):

wherein:

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl);

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl);

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and —(C 6 -C 18 is alkyl);

m is an integer between 0.35 and 0.4;

p is an integer between 0.03 and 0.05;

n is (1−m−p);

x is an integer between 0.03 and 0.05; and

represents —CH 3 or

2 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and —CH 2 CH 2 CF 3 .

3 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and methyl.

4 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are each phenyl.

5 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is —CH 2 CH 2 CF 3 and R 2 is methyl.

6 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is -phenyl and R 2 is methyl.

7 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is —(C 8 -C 10 alkyl).

8 . The polymer material of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is —(C 8 alkyl).

9 . A crosslinked siloxane composite membrane comprising:

a polymer material comprising a repeat unit of Formula (I):

wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl);

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl);

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and —(C 6 -C 18 alkyl);

m is an integer between 0.35 and 0.4;

p is an integer between 0.03 and 0.05;

n is (1−m−p);

x is an integer between 0.03 and 0.05; and

represents —CH 3 or

10 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and —CH 2 CH 2 CF 3 .

11 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and methyl.

12 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are each phenyl.

13 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 1 is —CH 2 CH 2 CF 3 and R 2 is methyl.

14 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 1 is -phenyl and R 2 is methyl.

15 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 3 is —(C 8 -C 10 alkyl).

16 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein R 3 is —(C 8 alkyl).

17 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein the membrane is cast on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support.

18 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein the membrane has a crosslinking density of about 5×10 −5 mol/mL to about 15×10 −5 mol/mL.

19 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein the membrane has a C 3 H 8 /CH 4 single gas selectivity (αc 3 H 8 /CH 4 ) of about 7 to about 25 at feed temperature of 20° C. and feed pressure of 1 bar.

20 . The crosslinked siloxane composite membrane of claim 9 , wherein the membrane has a C 4 H 10 /CH 4 single gas selectivity (αc 3 H 8 /CH 4 ) of about 25 to about 100 at feed temperature of 20° C. and feed pressure of 1 bar.

21 . A method of separating C 3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, comprising:

providing a crosslinked siloxane composite membrane comprising:

a polymer material comprising a repeat unit of Formula (I):

wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl);

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, —(C 1 -C 6 alkyl), and —(C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl);

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and —(C 6 -C 18 alkyl);

m is an integer between 0.35 and 0.4;

p is an integer between 0.03 and 0.05;

n is (1−m−p);

x is an integer between 0.03 and 0.05; and

represents —CH 3 or

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and —CH 2 CH 2 CF 3 .

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and methyl.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are each phenyl.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 1 is —CH 2 CH 2 CF 3 and R 2 is methyl.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 1 is -phenyl and R 2 is methyl.

27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 3 is —(C 8 -C 10 alkyl).

28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein R 3 is —(C 8 alkyl).

29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the crosslinked siloxane composite membrane is cast on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support.

30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the crosslinked siloxane composite membrane has a crosslinking density of about 5×10 −5 mol/mL to about 30×10 −5 mol/mL.

31 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the C 3+ hydrocarbons are more permeable through the crosslinked siloxane composite membrane than methane.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063461/0336 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063461/0550 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: VAIDYA, MILIND M.
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 062368/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: YANG, JUNYAN
To: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 062368/0269 →