Patent ID: 7837877

Claim:
A process for separating a multi-component feed stream into fractions comprising the steps of: (a) providing a feed stream having at least two fluid components in the same phase; (b) providing a porous separator having an inflow side and an outflow side; (c) maintaining across the porous separator a pressure differential comprising a relatively high pressure on the inflow side of the separator and a relatively low pressure on the outflow side of the separator; (d) bringing the feed stream at the relatively high pressure into contact with the inflow side of the separator and under conditions which effect separation of the components of the feed stream into a retentate which forms on the inflow side of the separator and a permeant fraction, wherein the permeant fraction (i) includes more than one component of the feed stream in a proportion different from that of the feed stream being treated; and (ii) is the source of a liquid permeate fraction and vapor permeate fraction as the permeant fraction passes through the porous separator; and (e) recovering each of said retentate, liquid permeate fraction, and vapor permeate fraction: wherein said porous separator comprises a membrane containing porous materials within membrane matrix.