Microwave synthesis of zeolite membranes: A review

Significant progress has been achieved in the last years on microwave synthesis of zeolite membranes. In many cases, microwave synthesis has proven to remarkably reduce the synthesis time. In addition, microwave synthesis could also result in different membrane morphology, orientation, composition, and thus the different permeation characteristics as compared with those synthesized by conventional heating. This review attempts to summarize the obtained progress in microwave synthesis of zeolite membranes. Some topics are discussed, including: (1) case study of microwave synthesis of zeolite membranes, e.g. LTA, MFI, AFI, and other types of zeolite membranes; (2) differences between conventional and microwave synthesis; (3) formation mechanism and the so called “specific microwave effect” in the case of microwave synthesis of zeolite membranes; (4) scaling-up of zeolite membrane production by employing microwave heating. The latter three topics are mainly focused on LTA type zeolite membranes. Concluding remarks and future perspective are also suggested in the end.     

澄清溶液中NaA型分子筛膜的合成及气体渗透性能

The use of zeolite membranes in separation or combined reaction and separation processes is very attractive. Advantages of using such a type of membranes include their ability to discriminate molecules based on the molecular size and their stability[1]. In the past ten years, most efforts were involved in the synthesis and permeation studies of MFI zeolite membrane[2, 3]. Recently, NaA zeolite membrane has attracted much attention because of its high potential in the dehydration of organic liquids[4]. However, few gas permeation results were reported[5]. Furthermore, most of the NaA zeolite membrane was synthesized from gel[4]. In this letter, the synthesis of NaA zeolite membrane from clear solution and its gas permeation properties are reported.     

NaA型分子筛膜的合成及分离性能的研究

在自制的片状多孔陶瓷载体上,通过多次原位水热晶化合成出ＮａＡ型分子筛膜,通过扫描电子显微镜观测,发现在某些区域,小颗粒的ＮａＡ型分子筛以非常紧密的形式畸晶孪生在一起,其致密度远好于由分子筛晶粒松散无规律堆积而形成的膜排列经类膜生长形式可能是获得取致密无缺陷型分子筛膜的一种途径,单组分及双组分气体渗透测试结果表明,在所合成的分子筛膜上,晶粒间隙孔可能是主要的膜扩散通道,可凝聚气体异丁烷因发生毛细管凝     

High-resolution physical adsorption on supported borosilicate MFI zeolite membranes: comparison with powdered samples

We have performed physical adsorption measurements to analyze the structure of intact MFI membranes with a nominal Si:B ratio of 12.5:1. Argon adsorption isotherms of membranes at 77 K are nearly identical to isotherms of corresponding zeolite powders throughout most of the domain of relative pressures, the exception being the micropore-filling region (between 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁴ relative pressure). The isotherm in the micropore-filling region is steeper by a factor of 4–5 for the borosilicate membranes than it is for a powder made under the same conditions, while the saturation loadings are found to be similar. This implies a difference in how the zeolite pores fill with argon – either thermodynamic or kinetic in origin – and that fluxes for argon permeation through such powder and membrane samples may differ. Our membrane adsorption measurements reveal no hysteresis and hence no mesoporsity in the zeolite membranes. This finding, from adsorption measurements, stands in contrast to recent alkane permeation measurements on these membranes, which suggest the presence of mesopores. We reaffirm the conclusion, found in previous work, that zeolite membranes can be approximated as a zeolite powder plus a support for the purposes of adsorption characterization.     

Dehydration of acetonitrile using cross-linked sodium alginate membrane containing nano-sized NaA zeolite

Pervaporation (PV) separation of water–acetonitrile mixture using sodium alginate (NaAlg) based mixed matrix membranes (MMM) comprising different amounts of nano NaA zeolite (10, 20 and 30 wt%) is investigated in various concentrations of water and temperatures. The prepared membranes are modified by sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) as a crosslinking agent. NaAlg-NaA/SSA membranes are synthesized by a solution casting technique. The process and membrane performance including separation factor, flux and activation energy of permeation are determined. Results reveal that adding of nano zeolite may lead to an increase in the flux and the separation factor of sodium alginate membrane up to 123 and 169%. In addition, using MMM in dehydration of a feed containing 30 wt% of water shows much better performance than alginate membrane. Furthermore, the activation energy of water permeation through MMM is predicted lower than sodium alginate membrane which reflects the facilitated permeation of water through MMM.     

Preparation and characterization of silicalite-1 membranes prepared by secondary growth of seeds with different crystal sizes

MFI-type zeolite particles of 0.1–1 μm in diameter were prepared by adjusting tetra-n-propylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) and water contents in synthesis mixtures. Using those particles as seeds, MFI-type zeolite membranes were prepared on the surface of a porous mullite tube by secondary growth. The membranes were formed as polycrystalline zeolite layers on and inside the porous support, and the membranes were composed of the [h 0 h]-oriented crystallites. The membrane consisting of a-oriented crystallites could be also prepared. However, the a-oriented zeolite layers were not active on the permeation properties of butanes. Rather the size and loaded amount of the seed particles influenced on the permeation properties through the membranes. As a result, the n-C₄H₁₀/i-C₄H₁₀ permselectivity could be increased to 220 by adjusting the size and the loaded amount of particles. These results suggest that the number of loaded particles affects on the permeation properties through the membranes.     

有机功能化α-Al2O3陶瓷中空纤维表面合成高性能分离氢用NaA分子筛膜

通过浸渍3-氨丙基甲基二乙氧基硅烷(ADMS)对α-Al₂O₃中空纤维载体进行有机功能化改性, 使载体表面带正电, 利用NaA分子筛晶种负电性与功能化载体之间的静电吸附机理进行预涂晶种, 采用微波加热-二次生长法于载体表面合成了NaA分子筛膜. 采用X射线衍射(XRD)、zeta 电位、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等分析手段和气体渗透实验对NaA分子筛膜进行了表征. 考察了未改性NaA分子筛膜与改性NaA分子筛膜的形貌、结构和气体渗透性能差异. XRD结果表明载体表面只有NaA分子筛生成; zeta 电位分析表明NaA分子筛晶种及分子筛前驱体与有机功能化载体电位相反, 存在静电吸附作用; SEM结果显示改性NaA分子筛膜表面颗粒相互联结呈孪生态, 膜厚约5 μm, 膜层致密、均匀、平整; 在不同温度下对H₂、O₂、N₂和C₃H₈进行气体渗透测试,35 °C条件下改性NaA分子筛膜对H₂的渗透率仅为3.6×10^-7 mol·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1, 较未改性NaA分子筛膜的渗透率(4.0×10^-7 mol·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1)低, 而改性NaA分子筛膜的H₂/C₃H₈理想分离系数则高达11.25, 远大于未改性NaA分子筛膜的H₂/C₃H₈理想分离系数(5.06).     

PREPARATION OF SILICALITE-1 AND ZSM-5 ZEOLITE/ CERAMIC COMPOSITE MEMBRANES

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气体分离分子筛膜

本文简述了气体分离分子筛膜的研究进展,总结了气体分离分子筛膜的制备方法、分子筛膜类型、气体分离性能及催化应用,分析了气体渗透测定方法和分离机理,对分子筛膜的发展提出一些建议。     

CO2／CH4分离膜及沸石填料影响渗透过程的研究

报导了甲基硅橡胶和纤维素（ＣＡ、ＣＴＡ、ＥＣ）膜对ＣＯ２、ＣＨ４的选择透气性能，并讨论了沸石作为填料所引起的分子筛作用的气体渗透过程。甲基硅橡胶的气体渗透系数最高，而选择性最低，且不受填料沸石的影响。纤维素膜的气体选择性较大，渗透系数可以通过沸石的加人而明显增加。特别是沸石１３Ｘ．沸石３Ａ、４Ａ、５Ａ在ＥＣ膜中对气体分子筛作用，改变了气体原有的渗透过程，提高了选择性。使用Ａｒｒｈｅｎｉｕｓ公式计算出ＥＣ－沸石３Ａ膜的气体渗透活化能。     

Synthesis Optimization of SSZ-13 Zeolite Membranes by Dual Templates for N2/NO2 Separation

High-silica SSZ-13 zeolite membranes are promising in industrial separations of light gases and continuous membranes are highly demanded for better separation performances. Herein, pure-phase, continuous and thin SSZ-13 zeolite membranes were synthesized using dual templates of N,N,N-trimethtyl-1-adamantammonium hydroxide(TMAdaOH) and tetraethylammonium hydroxide(TEAOH). Systematical investigations of TMAdaOH/TEAOH ratios and their concentrations show that TMAdaOH acts as the main structure-directing agent in the formation of the SSZ-13 zeolite. TMAdaOH cooperatively plays with TEAOH in promoting the SSZ-13 crystal intergrowth to form a continuous polycrystalline membrane. Additionally, appropriate introduction of TEAOH is able to adjust the membrane thickness to the crystal-comparable size of ca. 2.0 μm. The SSZ-13 membranes are further applied for N₂/NO₂separation, which is firstly reported on zeolite membranes. The gas permeation results show that the SSZ-13 membrane synthesized by the dual-template approach exhibits selective separation of N₂ over NO₂ with N₂/NO₂ separation factor of 7.6 and N₂ permeance of 1.66×10^-8 mol·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1.     

Role of clay-based membrane for removal of copper from aqueous solution

The present study focuses on the fabrication of polysulfone (PSf)-clay minerals impregnated hybrid membrane for treatment of Cu (II) ions. Blending and phase inversion methods have been employed to develop clay-based membranes by the mixing of bentonite, sepiolite and zeolite in the matrix of PSf. Moreover, characterization of fabricated membranes was carried out using SEM, FTIR, zeta potential, pore size and water contact angle measurement. Adsorption and filtration experiments were conducted to evaluate the permeation performance of the membrane. Obtained results of permeation study reveal that the presence of clay minerals in the matrix of modified membrane not only increases the adsorption and rejection efficiency for Cu (II) but, it also improves the flux of pure water. Among all developed membranes, the membrane prepared by the mixing of zeolite demonstrates the highest adsorption (2.82 mg/g) and rejection value (97%) towards Cu (II) at low pressure (0.5 bar). Regeneration performance results confirm the reusability of membrane up to 3–5 cycles along with 82.5–90% metal recovery. Based on significant metal recovery, clay-based low-cost zeolite/PSf membrane could be used to remove Cu (II) from water at low pressure to replace current conventional membrane.     

Synthesis,characterization and separation properties of a composite mordenite/ZSM-5/chabazite hydrophilic membrane

Composite mordenite/ZSM5/chabazite membranes were prepared on α-alumina tubular supports by in situ liquid phase hydrothermal synthesis. The membranes obtained were approximately 10 μm thick and were characterized by XRD, SEM and EPMA, as well as permeation of single gases (N₂ and n-butane). The membranes were then used to separate ternary mixtures, containing water, alcohol (methanol, ethanol or propanol), and a permanent gas (O₂). Water permeated faster because of the hydrophilic character of the composite membrane, with water/propanol selectivities as high as 149. The influence of operating conditions (temperature, pressure and feed composition) on the separation performance was analyzed. Also, the behavior of this composite zeolite membrane was compared with that of pure silicalite and ZSM5 membranes, and the differences observed are discussed in terms of relative organophilicity/hydrophilicity of the zeolites involved.     

ZSM-5分子筛填充壳聚糖膜的制备与性能研究

采用液相共混的方法制备了ZSM-5分子筛填充壳聚糖膜.扫描电镜表征表明分子筛在膜中分散均匀,膜表面没有明显缺陷.考察了填充膜在碳酸二甲酯/甲醇混合液中的溶胀和吸附行为,探讨了填充膜中分子筛含量及操作温度对渗透汽化膜分离性能的影响.结果表明膜优先吸附甲醇,其分离性能主要由溶解过程控制;随着膜中分子筛含量的增加,膜的溶胀度增大,渗透通量大幅度提高;渗透通量与操作温度符合Arrhenius关系式.与壳聚糖均质膜相比,ZSM-5分子筛填充壳聚糖膜对甲醇和碳酸二甲酯混合物具有更好的分离效果.     

Defects of Zeolite Membranes: Characterization,Modification and Post-treatment Techniques

Characterization of zeolite membrane defects including SEM, dye permeation, bubble point and permporometry methods are presented. Experimental setup, governing equations and step by step procedure for obtaining pore sizes are discussed for the most useful method, i.e., the permporometry. A complete review on the techniques for elimination of defects including chemical vapor and liquid depositions, coke deposition, surface coatings, and hydrothermal treatments is presented. For each method, experimental setup, various modification conditions as well as performance enhancement of the membranes are comprehensively discussed. Finally, comparison between different methods is performed to find the more efficient techniques.     

不锈钢金属网上L型分子筛膜的连续生长及气体渗透性能

选取不锈钢金属网作为成膜载体, 采用预涂晶种的方法, 研究了L型分子筛晶种在水热条件下二次生长成膜的过程. 对成膜条件进行了详细的考察, 并讨论了反应液的碱度及反应时间对L型分子筛膜形成的影响. 利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对L型分子筛膜的形貌进行了表征. 通过优化反应条件, 得到了致密、 连续、 纯相、 均匀的L型分子筛膜, 厚度约为20 μm. 单组分气体渗透测试结果表明, 在室温和常压下, L型分子筛膜对N₂气和H₂气的渗透速率分别为8.39×10^-8 和6.96×10^-7 mol·m^-2·s^-1·Pa^-1, 从而计算出膜对H₂/N₂混合气体的理想分离系数为8.3. 双组分气体渗透测试结果表明, 温度的升高会导致膜对H₂气和N₂气的渗透速率增加及H₂/N₂分离系数的减小.     

两步变温法微米晶种诱导合成高性能的T型分子筛膜

在预涂自制微米晶种的多孔管状莫来石支撑体表面上,采用两步变温法诱导合成T型分子筛膜。在溶胶配比nSiO2∶nAl2O3∶nNa2O∶nK2O∶nH2O=1∶0.05∶0.3∶0.1∶30合成条件下,通过变温晶化过程成功制备出高性能的T型分子筛膜。XRD和SEM结果表明,该法可在支撑体表面上较快地形成一层连续致密的纯相T型分子筛膜层,较大缩短了膜合成时间和提高了膜致密性。在优化条件下所合成的膜具有优异的渗透汽化性能,且膜制备的重复性良好。75℃时,在水/异丙醇(10/90,w/w)混合物体系中膜的渗透通量和分离因子分别高达4.25 kg.m-2.h-1,7600;在水/乙醇(10/90,w/w)混合物体系中膜的渗透通量和分离因子分别为2.87 kg.m-2.h-1,1 900。     

Water-alcohol Separation by Pervaporation through Zeolite Modified Poly(amidesulfonamide)s (PASAs)

A series of poly(amidesulfonamide)s (PASAs) which have been synthesized in our laboratory possess good membrane fabrication properties^[1]. The potential use of these membrane materials in RO, UF and PV were demonstrated^[2,3]. Reminiscent to the PV performance of other glassy polymers, most of these materials exhibit a fairly high separation factor albeit a permeation flux below 35 g m^-2 h^-1 in the PV separation of aqueous alcohol mixtures. To have a real application prospect in PV, the permeation flux through the membranes has to e further improved. The present work represents our effort to upgrade the separation characteristics of PASAs by blending with inert hydrophilic zeolites. Three types of PASAs (structure shown in Figure 1) were selected to be fabricated by blending different amount of zeolite NaA or NaX. The zeolite filled membranes were characterized by SEM, IR spectroscopy, sorption measurements and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. By adding proper amount of NaA into the polymer casting solutions, the resultant zeolite filled membranes exhibited improvement in both selectivity and permeability in the separation of 10% aqueous solutions of ethanol, propan-l-ol and propan-2-ol, as compared to the zeolite free membrane (Table 1).     

清液体系中T型分子筛膜的高重复性合成与渗透汽化性能

以自制微米级分子筛为晶种,在清液体系中成功合成出高性能的T型分子筛膜,考察了硅铝比、水硅比、碱度及合成温度与时间等条件对膜的生长和渗透汽化性能的影响.结果表明,在摩尔组成为1SiO₂:0.015Al₂O₃:0.41(Na₂O+K₂O):30H₂O的清液体系中,于423K晶化6h的条件下可较快地形成一层厚度为5μm的连续致密纯相T型分子筛膜,较大缩短了膜合成时间且提高了膜致密性.在优化条件下所合成的膜具有优良的分离性能和高重复性.348K时,在10wt%水-90wt%异丙醇混合物体系中膜的渗透通量和分离因子分别高达4.20kg/(m²·h)和7800.