Separation of gaseous mixtures using inorganic nanofiltration membranes
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
The use of membranes for gas phase separations dates back to the separation of isotopes of uranium hexafluoride in the 1940`s. Presently, both organic and inorganic membranes are used in a variety of industrial separation processes. Potential advantages of ceramic membranes over polymeric membranes include the ability to perform separations at elevated temperatures and in the presence of organic vapors. Various ceramic membranes have been fabricated via sol-gel techniques. These membranes are characterized by mean pore diameters of less than 15 angstroms. The permeabilities of these membranes have been measured for a variety of gases. In addition, permselectivities have been determined for mixtures of these gases. Increases in permeability are observed with increases in applied pressure. The permeability of these membranes to propylene is as much as thirty times greater than to nitrogen. Experimental results indicate that the transport of gases through these membranes involves a surface transport mechanism in addition to Knudsen diffusion.
- OSTI ID:
- 213113
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940713--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Gas phase fractionation method using porous ceramic membrane
Use of polymeric silica sols in inorganic molecular sieving membranes