New Developments for Higher Separation Performance

Other molecular sieve membranes are prime candidates as well. Molecular sieve carbon membranes exhibits very high separation factors in the laboratory. Their microstnictuies can be tailored by adjusting the synthesis and calcination conditions however, the issues of their mechanical, chemical and thermal stabilities under various potential application environments have not been addressed. 

Other approaches to reducing the membrane pore size are being investigated. Many of them are based on the sol-gel process or chemical vapor deposition as discussed in Chapter 3. An example is the preparation of small-pore silica membranes. Amorphous silica membranes have been prepared from solutions of silicate-based polymers. More specifically, some strategies are employed aggregation of fractal polymeric clusters, variation of sol composition, the use of organic molecular templates and modification of pore surface chemistry [Wallace and Brinker, 1993]. 

Yet another unique class of inorganic membrane materials called pillared clay and carbon composite membranes has been studied for gas separation [Zhu et al., 1994]. The permeation rates of benzene, chlorobenzene and 1,3-dichlorobenzene vapors through these membranes can be different by orders of magnitude as indicated earlier. This may open the door for these types of membranes for separating organic mixtures. 

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