Synthesis of Inorganic Membranes

University of Twente, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Enschede 

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Bhattakarya, S. K., N. K.. Nag and N. D. Ganguly. 1971. Kinetics of vapor phase oxidation of methanol on reduced silver catalyst. J. Catai 23 158-167 Burggraaf, A. J. and K. Keizer. 1991. Synthesis of Inorganic Membranes. In Inorganic Membranes Synthesis Characteristics and Applications, Eds R. Bhave, van Nostrand Reinhold, New York (Chapter 2). 

T.J. Burggraaf and K. Keizer, Synthesis of Inorganic Membranes, in Inorganic Membranes Synthesis, Characteristics, and Applications, R.R. Bhave (ed.), Chapmann Hall, New York, pp. 10-63 (1991). 

Synthesis of Inorganic Membranes with High Permselectivities and Permeabilities... 

Source From Burggraaf A.J., Keizer K., Synthesis of inorganic membranes. In Bhave R.R., ed. Inorganic Membranes, Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, New York, 1991, 11-63. 

In this chapter, different aspects of the sol-gel process have been described which were applied to the synthesis of inorganic membrane materials. Macro-, meso- or microporous as well as almost dense materials can be obtained depending on the preparation method. Some limitations in the control of pore size and pore size distribution are attached to conventional sol-gel methods, namely the colloidal and the polymeric routes, frequently used for the S5mthesis of inorganic membrane materials. Thanks to recent advances in sol-gel processing, a number of these limitations have been overcome introducing new concepts in the preparation of membranes with tailor-made porous textures. 

However, some problems such as low resistance in the presence of certain chemicals (hydrochloric acid, sulfur oxide and CO2) make them less attractive. Much effort has been also focused on the synthesis of inorganic membranes such as metal, molecular sieving carbon, zeolite and ceramics for the H2 separation. Table 17.8 reports some of the results present in the open literature about inorganic membranes for hydrogen separation. 

Titania powders are extensively used in pigments, as catalyst supports, and more recently in synthesis of inorganic membranes and as photocatalyst in gas and water purification. Silica particles have found applications as optical fibers, fillers. 

Figure 7-2. Synthesis of inorganic membrane materials by the sol-gel process.

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