Synthesis and water vapor separation properties of pure silica and aluminosilicate MCM-48 membranes

Shriya K. Seshadri, Y. S. Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work reports on the hydrothermal synthesis and gas-vapor separation properties of ordered mesoporous MCM-48 and Al-MCM-48 membranes. Gas permeation data for these membranes is characterized by the Knudsen type permeation mechanism, with a helium permeance of 7 × 10-8 mol/m 2 Pa s and 3 × 10-8 mol/m2 Pa s, respectively, confirming the mesoporous nature of the membranes synthesized. Separation of a water vapor/oxygen mixture for these membranes was studied to explore potential use of these membranes in air dehumidification and air conditioning applications. These membranes offer high water vapor/oxygen selectivity as a result of capillary condensation of water vapor in the pores of the membranes. In the case of MCM-48, an oxygen permeance of 5 × 10 -9 mol/m2 Pa s is obtained, with a water permeance of around 1 × 10-7 mol/m2 Pa s. The water vapor/oxygen separation factors as high as 17 are achieved. Al-MCM-48 membranes are seen to provide much higher separation factors reaching as high as 142, with water vapor permeance of 6 × 10-8 mol/m2 Pa s.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)261-267
Number of pages7
JournalSeparation and Purification Technology
Volume76
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 14 2011

Keywords

  • Aluminosilicate membrane
  • Dehumidification
  • Gas permeation
  • Ordered mesoporous materials
  • Silica membranes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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