Application of FAU-type zeolite membranes to vapor/gas separation under high pressure and high temperature up to 5 MPa and 180 °C

Tubular FAU-type zeolite membrane was synthesized on porous alumina substrate with 80 cm long by a seeded growth method. Pervaporation experiments using a mixture of water (10 wt%)/ethanol (90 wt%) at 75 °C demonstrated superior permeation properties of this type of membrane showing the total flux of 4–10 (kg m−2 h−1) with the separation factor of 110–300. A part of the synthesized membrane with 10 cm long was applied to gas separation at high pressures of 1–5 MPa and high temperatures of 130 and 180 °C. Ternary mixtures of water, methanol and hydrogen were used for evaluating the permselectivities of FAU-type membrane. It was found that hydrogen permeation was strongly depressed in the presence of water and methanol. Preferential adsorption of water and methanol in the micropores of FAU-type zeolite possibly played an important role for the appearance of permselectivity.