SEPURAN

Patended 3-stage membrane-based separation process

Evonik has developed and patented a 3-stage biogas upgrading process that makes optimum use of the SEPURAN® Green membranes separation properties.

In the gas separation process, which has been developed by Evonik, binary gas mixtures such as raw biogas, which consists primarily of biomethane and carbon dioxide, can be separated very efficiently and cost effectively. In addition to increased yields and lower equipment and energy requirements – a second compressor is no longer required - the membrane process eliminates the need for additional purification, so that the enriched gas can be fed directly into the natural gas network.

Patents granted in relevant markets

The 3-step membrane process developed by Evonik is legally protected in all major European markets besides America and Asia.

At the core of the separation process are the innovative hollow fibre membranes of Evonik’s SEPURAN® Green brand. These consist of a high-performance plastic, developed by Evonik, which can withstand extreme pressure and temperatures. The membranes also have excellent selectivity. In combination with the three-stage separation process, recycling streams can be minimized which helps to optimize the energy costs of biogas processing plants.

License to use

With the purchase of the SEPURAN® Green membranes, Evonik’s contract partners – plant engineering companies - also receive a license to use this three-stage separation process. In turn, when a company buys a biogas processing plant with SEPURAN® Green membranes that has been constructed by Evonik’s contract partners, the plant with SEPURAN® Green membranes can be operated using the patent-protected process.

Label for certified suppliers

Evonik introduces their label for certified suppliers of efficient biogas upgrading units with SEPURAN® Green Membranes.

Our Certified suppliers of Biogas upgrading units are allowed to use (and sublicense to its customers) the 3-stage separation process that has been developed only and patented by Evonik. It makes optimum use of the SEPURAN® Green membranes separation properties and combines highest performance with optimized energy costs through minimized recycling streams.

Consequently, only if a company buys a biogas processing plant that has been constructed by Evonik’s contract partners, that plant can be legally operated using the patent-protected 3-stage process.

This process developed by Evonik is legally protected in all major European markets as well as in America and in Asia.

This newly introduced label is of big support for those in the biogas market, who are interested in operating biogas upgrading plants. It is a very transparent medium for end customers now to identify suppliers, who are providing best-in-class solutions and a proven technology.

Current patent status - Patents/applications having joint priority with EP 2 588 217 B1

Country

Status

Application date / number

Publication date / number

Grant date / patent number

AT

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

AU

Granted

26.05.2011; 
AU 2011273795 

21.02.2013
AU 2011272795 A1

24.05.2014; 
AU 2011273795 B2

BE

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

BR

Filed

26.05.2011; 
BR 112013000082-1 

17.05.2016
BR 112013000082 A2

CA

Granted

26.05.2011; 
CA 2804233 

05.01.2012
CA 2804233 A1

10.10.2017; 
CA 2,804,233 C

CH

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

CN

Granted

26.05.2011; 
CN 201610579119.8

26.10.2016; 
CN 106039942 A

29.07.2022; 109039942  

CZ

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

DE

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

DK

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

ES

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

FR

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

GB

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

HU

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

ID

Granted

26.05.2011; 
W00201205367 

25.04.2013; 
ID 2013/01463

07.09.2017; 
IDP000047617 B

IE

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

IN

Granted

26.05.2011; IN 704/CHENP/2013

27.06.2014; 
IN 704/CHENP/2013

02.03.2021; 
IN 360024

IT

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

JP

Granted

26.05.2011; 
JP 2013-517129 

09.09.2013
JP2013534863A

25.12.2015; 
JP 5858992 B2

KR

Granted

26.05.2011; 
KR 10-2013-7002616 

15.01.2014
KR 10-2014-0005846 A

28.05.2019; 
KR 101985551 B1

MY

Granted

26.05.2011; 
PI2012005577 

28.02.2018; 
MY-165009-A

NL

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

PL

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

RU

Granted

26.05.2011; 
EA 201390039 

05.01.2012;
WO2012000727 A1

31.05.2016; 
EA 023203 B1

SE

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

SG

Granted

26.05.2011; 
SG 201209219-3

30.01.2013
SG 186357 A1

10.07.2015; 
SG 186357 A1

TH

Filed

26.05.2011; 
TH 1201006751 

26.05.2014; 
TH 133874

TR

Granted /
under appeal

26.05.2011; 
EP 11722404.8 

08.05.2013; 
WO2012000727 A1

22.02.2017; 
EP 2588217 B1

US

Granted

26.05.2011; 
US 13/807,831 

25.04.2013; 
US 2013/0098242

07.04.2015; 
US 8,999,038 B2

ZA

Granted

26.05.2011; 
ZA 2013/00836 

30.10.2013; 
ZA 2013/00836

Current patent status - Patents/applications having joint priority with EP 3240620 B1

Country

Status

Application date / number

Publication date / number

Grant date / patent number

AT

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

AU

Granted

22.12.2015; 
AU 2015373475 A

29.06.2017
AU 2015373475 A1

20.08.2020; 
AU 2015373475 B2

BE

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

BR

Granted

22.12.2015; 
BR 112017013042-4 

09.01.2018
BR 112017013042 A2

03.11.2021
BR 112017013042

CA

Granted

22.12.2015; 
CA 2970104 

07.07.2016
CA 2970104 A1

21.06.2022; 2,970,104    

CH

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

CN

Granted

22.12.2015;
CN 201580071676.2 

29.08.2017; 
CN 107106972 A

15.09.2020; 
CN 107106972 B

CZ

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

DE

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

DK

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

ES

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

FR

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

GB

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

ID

Granted

22.12.2015; 
P00201704896 

16.01.2020; 
IDP000066466

IE

Granted / under opposition

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

IN

Granted

22.12.2015; 
IN 201717019644 

03.11.2017
IN 201717019644 A

11.11.2020; 
IN 351367

IT

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

JP

Granted

22.12.2015; 
JP 2017-552231 

26.04.2018 
JP 2018511472 A

25.01.2019; 
JP 6471243 B2

KR

Granted

22.12.2015; 
KR 10-2017-7019549 

08.09.2017
KR 20170102266 A

19.05.2022; 10-2401146  

MY

Granted

22.12.2015; 
PI2017702280 

20.11.2020; 
MY-180042-A

NL

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

PL

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

RU

Granted

22.12.2015; 
201791478 

02.03.2020; 
EA 034642 B1

SG

Granted

22.12.2015; 
SG 11201704591U 

28.07.2017
SG 11201704591 UA

25.10.2019; 
SG 11201704591U

TH

Filed

22.12.2015; 
1701003647 

08.02.2018; 
TH 1701003647

TR

Granted / under opposition  

22.12.2015; 
EP 15817339.3 

08.11.2017; 
WO 2016/107786 A1

05.05.2021; 
EP 3240620 B1

US

Granted

22.12.2015; 
US 15/540,709 

28.12.2017; 
US 2017/0368497 A1

12.11.2019; 
US 10,471,380 B2

ZA

Granted

22.12.2015; 
ZA 2017/04987 

31.07.2019; 
ZA 2017/04987 B

Current patent status - Patents/applications having joint priority with EP 2996794 B1

Country

Status

Application date / number

Publication date / number

Grant date / patent number

DE

Granted / under appeal

28.04.2014; 
EP 14719763.6 

23.03.2016; 
WO 2014/183977 A1

26.09.2018; 
EP 2996794 B1

FR

Granted / under appeal

28.04.2014; 
EP 14719763.6 

23.03.2016; 
WO 2014/183977 A1

26.09.2018; 
EP 2996794 B1

GB

Granted / under appeal

28.04.2014; 
EP 14719763.6 

23.03.2016; 
WO 2014/183977 A1

26.09.2018; 
EP 2996794 B1

IT

Granted / under appeal

28.04.2014; 
EP 14719763.6 

23.03.2016; 
WO 2014/183977 A1

26.09.2018; 
EP 2996794 B1