High flux mesoporous MCM-48 membranes: Effects of support and synthesis conditions on membrane permeance and quality

This communication reports experimental efforts to synthesize defect-free mesoporous MCM-48 membranes with improved gas flux. We demonstrate a facile and inexpensive method of synthesizing defect-free supported MCM-48 membranes with improved N2 and CO2 permeance (>2 × 10−7 mol/m2 s Pa) employing asymmetric supports for the membrane synthesis which contain layers of macropores possessing different pore sizes. The membranes prepared on asymmetric α-alumina supports displayed higher gas permeance than those fabricated on symmetric supports (N2 permeance <10−7 mol/m2 s Pa) as confirmed by unsteady-state gas permeation experiments. Further improvement in gas permeance was achieved by covering one face and the sides of the support with a ceramic tape during membrane synthesis.