A Method for Dissolved Gas Separation

• Surfaces are engineered to be non-wetting, by coating with hydrophobic material for aqueous solutions

• Surfaces are engineered to be non-wetting by coating with an oleophobic material for non-polar hydrocarbon based fluids

Benefit

By using non-wetting coating materials, bubble nucleation is enhanced. Once bubbles are formed, they can be eluted easily from the solution.

Engineered surfaces can also suppress bubble nucleation, thereby causing supersaturation of the gas in the fluid.

Market Application

• Separation of natural gas from oil during refining.
• Ethanol production for food and fuel applications.
• Supersaturation for production of crystals.