COMPLEXES IN MEMBRANES-

THIS PROGRAM PROPOSES A UNIQUE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING O2 OR O2-ENRICHED AIR USING A PATENTED GROUP OF ORGAN- OMETALLIC AMINE-MANGANESE COMPLEXES. THESE COMPLEXES REVERSIBLY ADSORB AND DESORB O2 FROM AIR AND ARE NOT EASILY DEGRADED BY WATER VAPOR OR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. THE PLAN IS TO DISSOLVE THESE COMPLEXES IN A SOLVENT PHASE AND FACILITATE TRANSPORT ACROSS A POROUS POLYMERIC MEMBRANE. THE COMPLEX BINDS O2 AT THE FEED-STREAM/MEMBRANE INTERFACE, DIFFUSES ACROSS THE MEMBRANE AS THE OXYGENATED COMPLEX, RELEASES O2 TO THE PRODUCT STREAM, AND DIFFUSES BACK TO THE FEED-STREAM/ MEMBRANE INTERFACE TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. AN ORDER-OF- MAGNITUDE HIGHER PERMEABILITY AND SELECTIVITY FOR O2 OVER SILICONE RUBBER IS EXPECTED FROM SUCH MEMBRANES. THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE O2 OR O2-ENRICHED AIR INEXPENSIVELY FOR THE CHEMICAL PROCESS INDUSTRY.