Zeolite Membranes for Separation of Mixtures Containing Water, Alcohols, or Organics
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsWei Liu, Jian Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Zeolite membrane sheets for separation of mixtures containing water, alcohols, or organics are provided, as well as methods for making the same. Thin, but robust, zeolite membrane sheets having a zeolite membrane layer formed directly on a thin porous metal support sheet provide improved separations performance. The zeolite membrane layers have a thickness less than 3 μm and are formed on a thin porous metal support sheet having a thickness less than or equal to approximately 200 μm. The porous metal support sheet comprises an average pore size of less than 3 μm, a porosity between 25% and 75%, and a thickness of less than or equal to 200 μm.
Claims19
A method for making a zeolite membrane sheet, the method characterized by the steps of:
- Applying a uniform seeding layer having a thickness less than 3 μm and comprising zeolite crystals having an average diameter less than or equal to 1 μm to a bare metal surface of a front side of a porous metal support sheet, the support sheet comprising an average pore size of less than 3 μm, a porosity between 25% and 75%, and a thickness of less than or equal to 200 μm;
- and
- Hydrothermally forming an inter-crystal growth layer by immersion of the support sheet with the seeding layer in a zeolite growth solution, the inter-crystal growth layer incorporating the seeding layer, comprising the same zeolite as the zeolite crystals, and having a thickness less than or equal to 3 μm.
A zeolite membrane sheet characterized by:
- a seeding layer having a thickness less than 3 μm and comprising zeolite crystals having an average diameter less than or equal to 1 μm to a bare metal surface of a front side of a porous metal support sheet, the support sheet comprising an average pore size of less than 3 μm, a porosity between 25% and 75%, and a thickness of less than or equal to 200 μm;
- and
- An inter-crystal growth layer incorporating the seeding layer, comprising the same zeolite as the zeolite crystals, and having a thickness less than or equal to 3 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.