Preparation of high selectivity silicalite-1 membranes by two-step in situ hydrothermal synthesis

Abstract

High selectivity silicalite-1 membranes were synthesized on silica tubes by in situ hydrothermal synthesis. Using a two-step synthesis, a membrane with a separation factor of 99 was prepared for separating an ethanol/water mixture at 60°C. The average (n = 4) flux and separation factor of the membranes were 0. 47 kg m -2 h -1 and 89, respectively. The membranes exhibited high reproducibility, and the relative standard deviation of the average (n = 4) flux and separation factor were only 5. 3% and 9. 2%, respectively. These results suggest that silica is a suitable support for synthesis of high-performance silicalite-1 membranes. © 2011 Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.