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Microporous Inorganic Membranes for Gas Separation and Purification

  • Research and Development
  • Porous Ceramics
  • Published:
Interceram - International Ceramic Review

Abstract

The importance of inorganic membranes for gas separation and purification is analyzed. Although the cost of inorganic membranes is higher than that for polymeric membranes, they have higher permeance, selectivity and better resistance to higher pressure and temperature. The main materials used for porous inorganic membranes are alumina (Al2O3), silica (SiO2), zirconia (ZrO2), zeolite and carbon. Ceramics are compounds of metallic and non-metallic elements. They generally have a macroporous support, an intermediate layer and a small porous top layer. Because the Knudsen gas separation regime has a very low selectivity, various membrane surface modification techniques have started to be experimented with at a number of laboratories. The research focuses on materials that exhibit molecular sieving properties, such as silica, zeolites, MOFs (metal-organic frameworks), graphene and carbon. Finally, gas transport mechanisms through porous membranes are summarized.

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Abbreviations

MOFs:

metal organic framework

SEM:

scanning electron microscope

CVD:

chemical vapor deposition

CVI:

chemical vapor infiltration

a AB :

separation factor of a component A over component B

Pvisc:

viscous permeance (mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1)

ε:

porosity

μ:

viscosity [Pa s]

η:

shape factor

r:

pore radius [m]

p av :

mean pressure [Pa]

L:

thickness of the membrane (m)

PKn:

Knudsen permeance [mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1]

v:

molecular velocity [m s−1]

M:

molecular weight of the diffusing gas (kg mol−1)

R:

the gas constant (8.31445 J mol−1 K−1)

T:

temperature [K]

F:

permeation molar flux [mol s−1]

P e :

permeability coefficient, [mol m−1 s−1 Pa−1]

A:

permeation area [m2]

P 1 :

upstream gas partial pressure [Pa]

P 2 :

downstream gas partial pressure [Pa]

GTR:

gas transmission rate

λ:

mean free path

K n :

Knudsen number

K b :

the Boltzmann constant

p:

pressure [Pa]

d g :

gas molecule diameter [m]

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank all their colleagues for their help and support. In particular, D. De Meis expresses his sincere gratitude to Prof. Ted Oyama for his suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fusion and Nuclear Safety Department, C. R. Frascati, ENEA, Via E. Fermi 45, 00044, Frascati (Roma), Italy

    Domenico De Meis

  2. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Roma, Italy

    Domenico De Meis & M. Richetta

  3. Department for Sustainability, C. R. Casaccia, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Santa Maria di Galeria (Roma), Italy

    E. Serra

Authors
  1. Domenico De Meis
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  3. E. Serra
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Correspondence to Domenico De Meis.

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De Meis, D., Richetta, M. & Serra, E. Microporous Inorganic Membranes for Gas Separation and Purification. Interceram. - Int. Ceram. Rev. 67, 16–21 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42411-018-0023-2

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