Synthesis of mono- and bi-layer MFI zeolite films on macroporous alumina tubular supports: Application to nanofiltration

This work is dedicated to the development of MFI-type structure zeolite films (single-layer or bilayer) on the internal layer of a specific macroporous alumina tubular support for nanofiltration applications. The bottom MFI layer was obtained by direct hydrothermal synthesis while a secondary growth method was used for the top MFI layer. A complete characterization of the obtained MFI membranes (single-layer or bilayer) is proposed using various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry and nitrogen sorption measurements. Dense and highly crystallized films of MFI-type structure zeolite were obtained for both single-layer and bilayer MFI films. The total film thickness were around 7.1±0.5 μm and 14.5±1 μm for single-layer and bilayer MFI films respectively. The Si/Al molar ratio of the MFI films varied between 185 and 305 for single-layer and bilayer MFI films respectively. The hydraulic permeability of the tubular MFI membrane was achieved by the filtration of pure water. The hydraulic permeability of the single-layer and bilayer MFI membranes decreased rapidly at the beginning of the conditioning process, and stabilized at 1.08×10-14 m3 m−2 and 1.02×10-15 m3 m−2 after 15 h and the rejection rates of neutral solute (Vb 12) are 10% and 50% for the single-layer and bilayer MFI films respectively.