Patent ID: 8486179

Claim:
A process of separating acid gas components from a natural gas stream comprising: providing an asymmetric carbon molecular sieve hollow fiber module comprising a sealable enclosure, said enclosure having a plurality of membranes contained therein, at least one of said membranes produced according to the process comprising the steps of a. providing an asymmetric hollow polymer fiber precursor b. heating said precursor in a chamber to at least a temperature at which pyrolysis byproducts are evolved; and, c. flowing an inert gas through said chamber, said inert gas containing less than about 40 ppm of oxygen; an inlet for introducing a feed stream comprising natural gas; an outlet for permitting egress of a permeate gas stream; and, another outlet for permitting egress of a retentate gas stream; and introducing said natural gas stream into said module at a pressure of at least about 20 bar.