Krypton-xenon separation properties of SAPO-34 zeolite materials and membranes
Separation of the radioisotope 85Kr from 136Xe is an important target during used nuclear fuel recycling. In this paper, we report a detailed study on the Kr and Xe adsorption, diffusion, and membrane permeation properties of the silicoaluminophosphate zeolite SAPO-34. Adsorption and diffusion measurements on SAPO-34 crystals indicate their potential for use in Kr-Xe separation membranes, but also highlight competing effects of adsorption and diffusion selectivity. SAPO-34 membranes are synthesized on α$-$alumina disk and tubular substrates via steam assisted conversion seeding and hydrothermal growth, and are characterized in detail. Membrane transport measurements reveal that SAPO-34 membranes can separate Kr from Xe by molecular sieving, with Kr permeabilities around 50 Barrer and mixture selectivity of 25–30 for Kr at ambient or slight sub-ambient conditions. Finally, the membrane transport characteristics are modeled by the Maxwell-Stefan equations, whose predictions are in very good agreement with experiment and confirm the minimal competing effects of adsorption and diffusion.
- Authors:
-
[1]
; [1]
; [1]
; [1]
; [1]
; [2]
- Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science & Technology Division
- Publication Date:
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725; NE0008298; NE 0008298
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- AIChE Journal
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 63; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0001-1541
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Research Org:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; zeolite membranes; gas separation
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1356958
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1400772
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
- Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)
-
Accepted Manuscript (DOE)
- Publisher's Version of Record
- https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.15434