Zeolite molecular sieve film

In a word, ion-exchange with the assistance of microwaves is feasible, convenient, and fast. It can reach a higher exchange degree than can traditional methods and make the inaccessible ions in traditional methods exchangeable. This method is especially appropriate for the laboratory preparation of ion-exchanged zeolite molecular sieves. The microwave technique is very successful in the synthesis of microporous crystals, modification of the properties of zeolites, secondary synthesis of microporous materials, and the preparation of ultra-fine particles and films, and has attracted the wide interest of chemists in the field of molecular sieves. 

Similar films are obtained from powdered molecular sieves loaded with organic molecules Zeolite Y microparticles embedded into a polystyrene film and loaded with appropriately sized transition metal complexes allow selective electron exchange reactions between trapped and mobile species in the film... 

The separation factors are relatively low and consequently the MR is not able to approach full conversion. With a molecular sieve silica (MSS) or a supported palladium film membrane, an (almost) absolute separation can be obtained (Table 10.1). The MSS membranes however, suffer from a flux/selectivity trade-off meaning that a high separation factor is combined with a relative low flux. Pd membranes do not suffer from this trade-off and can combine an absolute separation factor with very high fluxes. A favorable aspect for zeoHte membranes is their thermal and chemical stability. Pd membranes can become unstable due to impurities like CO, H2S, and carbonaceous deposits, and for the MSS membrane, hydrothermal stability is a major concern [62]. But the performance of the currently used zeolite membranes is insufficient to compete with other inorganic membranes, as was also concluded by Caro et al. [63] for the use of zeolite membranes for hydrogen purification. 

The FPI principle can also be used to develop thin-film-coating-based chemical sensors. For example, a thin layer of zeolite film has been coated to a cleaved endface of a single-mode fiber to form a low-finesse FPI sensor for chemical detection. Zeolite presents a group of crystalline aluminosilicate materials with uniform subnanometer or nanometer scale pores. Traditionally, porous zeolite materials have been used as adsorbents, catalysts, and molecular sieves for molecular or ionic separation, electrode modification, and selectivity enhancement for chemical sensors. Recently, it has been revealed that zeolites possess a unique combination of chemical and optical properties. When properly integrated with a photonic device, these unique properties may be fully utilized to develop miniaturized optical chemical sensors with high sensitivity and potentially high selectivity for various in situ monitoring applications. 

There are three distinct mass-transfer resistances (1) the external resistance of the fluid film surrounding the pellet, (2) the diffusional resistance of the macropores of the pellet, and (3) the diffusional resistance of the zeolite crystals. The external mass-transfer resistance may be estimated from well-established correlations (4, 5) and is generally negligible for molecular sieve adsorbers so that, under practical operating conditions, the rate of mass transfer is controlled by either macropore diffusion or zeolitic diffusion. In the present analysis we consider only systems in which one or other of these resistances is dominant. If both resistances are of comparable importance the analysis becomes more difficult. 

Among the many classes of microreactor which have been used in organic phototransformation, we will limit our discussion only on molecular-sieve zeolites, Nafion membranes, vesicles, and low-density polyethylene films. 

It is evident that the ceramic membrane, which is represented in the XRD pattern (see Figure 10.6) by the amorphous component of the XRD profile, was covered by the AlP04-5 molecular sieve, since the crystalline component of the obtained XRD pattern fairly well coincides with the standards reported in the literature [107]. Consequently, the porous support was successfully coated with a zeolite layer, which was shaped by the hydrothermal process as previously described. Thus, a composite membrane, that is, an AlP04-5 molecular sieve thin film zeolite-based ceramic, was produced. 

Another state-of-the-art detection system contains a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device, which is based on a piezoelectric crystal whose resonant frequency is sensitive to tiny changes in its mass—it can sense a change of 10-1° g/cm2. In one use of this device as a detector it was coated with a thin film of zeolite, a silicate mineral. Zeolite has intricate passages of a very uniform size. Thus it can act as a molecular sieve, allowing only molecules of a certain size to pass through onto the detector, where their accumulation changes the mass and therefore alters the detector frequency. This sensor has been used to detect amounts of methyl alcohol (CH3OH) as low as 10 9 g. 

Early work regarding the polymerization of acetylene in zeolites was performed by Tsai et al. They reported that the extent of pol5nnerization on X-zeolites was related to the size of the alkali metal cations present in the cages, and that the cations activate the acetylene molecules. The photopolymerization of diacetylenes (3,5-octadiyne-l,8-diol) on various surfaces, including molecular sieves 5A and 13X, was examined. On polar surfaces, the first molecular layers are absorbed through hydrogen bonds, but due to their relative orientation these molecules do not polymerize. However, additional layers can be photopolymerized to form stable polymer films on the surface. 

Zeolite materials are used commercially as shape/ size selective catalysts in the petrochemical and petroleum refining industry, and as molecular sieving separation media for gases and hydrocarbons. For both applications, zeolites are used in powder composite form such as pellets and granules. In this entry, we focus on zeolite membranes. We define zeolite membranes as a continuous phase of zeolite-based materials (pure zeolite or composite) that separate two spaces. Zeolite membranes are generally uniform thin films attached to a porous or a nonporous substrate. They can also be self-standing without a substrate. Note that we have included zeolite films and layers on nonporous substrate in this entry because we believe many of the synthesis strategies and applications reported for those nonporous substrates are easily transferred to a porous substrate to prepare a zeolite membrane. 

Fig. 2 (A) SEM top view of fo-oriented pure-silica-zeolite (PSZ) MFI monocrystal-thick film (B) cross-sectional view of the sample in (A) after slight polishing (C) schematic illustration of molecular sieving in h-oriented PSZ MFI monocrystal-thick film. A distance was intentionally kept between the MFI film and the electrode so that the sieving behavior can be illustrated more clearly. (From Ref...

Based on their regular pore structure, it should be possible to impart the molecular sieving capabilities of zeolites on the surface of electrodes in electrochemical reactions. Several research groups have addressed this issue by (i) developing ways to modify electrodes with thin zeolite films and (ii) by studying the resulting changes in electrode behaviour in electrochemical reactions. The subject has been reviewed.[91]... 

A striking example of molecular sieving in a stable, continuous b-oriented silicalile-1 film (having pores of about 0.55 nm) on an electrode was recently demonstrated with redox probe molecules of different sizes (Fig. 13).[100] Specifically, the smaller complex Ru(NII3)63+ with a diameter of ca. 0.5 nm was shown to travel through the film, while the larger complex Co(phen)32+ with a diameter of ca. 1.3 nm was completely excluded from the zeolite film and thus from redox processes. 

Fig. 13. Structure and concept of size-selective zeolite-coated electrode, (a) Electron micrograph of b-oriented silicalite-1 film (top view), (b) side view, (c) schematic illustration of molecular sieving of electro-active species having different sizes. [100]...

Finally, we mention a novel transduction concept based on the heal evolved from a reaction such as combustion. Microcalorimetric devices can now be made using lithographic techniques. One of the two sensitive areas of such a device (were evolved heat can be measured) was coated with a thin film of CoA1P04-5, the other was kept open as a reference 135] The additional benefit of a zeolite with catalytic activity for such a device is the molecular sieving effect that can be combined in the response of the sensor (a molecule too big to enter the catalytically active interior of the zeolite should only show a weak response). The change in temperature was measured with a meandering Pt-wire resistor. This device was examined in the detection of CO and cyclohexane, and sensitivity and selectivity in the low ppm-range was observed. 

There is a great need for robust, defect-free, highly selective molecular sieve (zeolite) thin film membranes for light gas molecule separations in hydrogen fuel production from CH4 or H2O sources. They contain an inherent chemical, thermal and mechanical stability not found in conventional membrane materials. Our goal is to utilize those zeolitic qualities in membranes for the separation of light gases, and to eventually partner with industry to commercialize the membranes. To date, we have successfully ... 

The most active areas of development for membrane materials are currently synthesis of supported thin Aims, and pore modification. The complete selectivity to one species provided by dense membranes is very attractive, but is accompanied by low permeation rates if the membrane is composed entirely of the dense material. To maintain structural stability, thinner dense films must be supported by materials that are strong but that offer no additional resistance to permeation. Similar principles apply to the use of microporous materials with high permselectivities or molecular sieving effects. Some examples of these developments are supported Pd films on porous aluminas,or on porous stainless steel, and supported zeolite films. Pore modification has been used to deposit materials inside mesoporous materials, an example being the deposition of SiOa films in porous glass. 

Zeolites are crystalline aluminosiUcates characterized by a structure comprising a three-dimensional pore system and regular framework formed by linked TO4 tetrahedral (T = Si, Al) with different morphological and physico-chemical properties. Due to their impressive selectivity and uniform pore structure, they have very efficient molecular sieving properties, and are able to separate molecules based on size and shape. Zeolite powders, films and membranes are widely used in catalysis, adsorption and separation applications (McLeary et al, 2006 Pina et al., 2011). Zeolites are cheap and widely available due to their abundance in both natural and synthetic forms. The application of zeolites in the membrane field is growing very fast, and has been the subject of increased research focus during the last few decades (McLeary et al., 2006). 

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