Patent ID: 6146535
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: B01D,C02F,E02B,Y02A

Abstract:
A method of separating a free organic phase comprising at least one liquid organic compound from an aqueous mixture having a free aqueous phase and said free organic phase, comprising the steps ofproviding a plurality of hollow hydrophobic mircoporous fibers, each of said fibers having a longitudinal bore and micropores extending through each of said fibers to the interior of each fiber;said micropores having a shape an/or orientation relative to flow of the mixture and a cross-sectional size sufficiently small to exclude entry into said fibers of said aqueous phase due to surface tension of said aqueous phase but permitting entry into said fibers of said at least one organic compound;maintaining a reduced pressure in said fibers at a level sufficient to induce a reduced sufficient to draw the at least one organic compound into the fibers, but insufficient to overcome the surface tension of said aqueous phase;contacting said mixture with said fibers; andseparating said organic phase from said mixture as a separate organic phase devoid of said aqueous phase.