Fabrication of high-performance silicalite-1 membrane by a novel seeding method using zeolite-dispersed polymer film

Abstract

A highly reproducible silicalite-1 membrane with high pervaporation performance was successfully prepared on a tubular silica support by a novel seeding method using a zeolite-dispersed polymer film. The proposed seeding method (film seeding) allowed for the formation of a uniform and continuous zeolite seed layer with high reproducibility on the support surface in a single seeding step, resulting in a membrane with high separation performance. The synthesized membrane had a continuous and dense zeolite layer with a thickness of approximately 12 μm and exhibited an ethanol/water separation factor of 120 and flux of 3.16 kg m−2 h−1 for 10 wt% ethanol/water mixtures at 323 K by pervaporation. This novel seeding method should lead to the development of new processes for synthesizing zeolite membranes that show both high performance and reproducibility. Moreover, given the simplicity and effectiveness of the method, it has immense potential for use in the commercial production of various types of zeolite membranes.