Chapter 12 Gas separation using inorganic membranes

Abstract

This chapter discusses gas separation using inorganic membranes. The separation process can be optimized by choosing a good combination of pressure and temperature. If more selective membranes are necessary for an actual separation process, the pore size has to be decreased to values smaller than 2 nm or dense materials have to be used. The chapter discusses inorganic membrane structures, types of membranes and membrane preparation and modification. Inorganic membrane separation mechanisms will be considered together with their potential for gas separation. The chapter will consider why—and in which cases—gas separation with inorganic membranes can have an advantage over other separation possibilities. An evaluation and conclusions is given concerning the application possibilities of gas separation with inorganic membranes. However, the membrane material development is at present two to four years ahead of the high temperature module development. Therefore, more effort must be put towards the development of high-temperature modules to give inorganic membranes a real chance in high-temperature gas separations and membrane reactor applications.