Ceramic membranes having macroscopic channels

Patent · Tue Sep 03 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:372566

Anderson, M A; Peterson, R A

Methods have been developed to make porous ceramic membranes having macroscopic channels therethrough. The novel membranes are formed by temporarily supporting the sol-gel membrane precursor on an organic support which is ultimately removed from the interior of the membrane, preferably by pyrolysis or by chemical destruction. The organic support may also include an inorganic metal portion that remains on destruction of the organic portion, providing structural support and/or chemical reactivity to the membrane. The channels formed when the organic support is destroyed provide the ability to withdraw small catalytic products or size-separated molecules from the metal oxide membrane. In addition, the channel-containing membranes retain all of the advantages of existing porous ceramic membranes. 1 fig.

• Research Organization: University of Wisconsin
• DOE Contract Number: AS07-86ID12626; FG07-91ID13062
• Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5,552,351/A/
• Application Number: PAN: 8-413,314
• OSTI ID: 372566
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
CERAMICS
DECOMPOSITION
FABRICATION
MEMBRANES
PORE STRUCTURE
PRECURSOR
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SUPPORTS