Single‐Step Scalable Fabrication of Zeolite MFI Hollow Fiber Membranes for Hydrocarbon Separations. Issue 19 (6th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Min, Byunghyun; Yang, Shaowei; Korde, Akshay; Jones, Christopher W.; Nair, Sankar
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 7:Issue 19(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-08-06
• Subjects: butane isomers -- gas separation -- hollow fibers -- natural gas -- zeolite membranes; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202000926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the high potential of zeolite MFI membranes for the separation of important hydrocarbons, their impact on industrial hydrocarbon separations has been limited by challenges in scalable fabrication methods and use of high‐cost membrane supports. Here a one‐step method for fabrication of highly selective and thin (<1 µm) MFI zeolite membranes on low‐cost α‐alumina hollow fiber supports is demonstrated. This is enabled by use of a highly concentrated silicate precursor gel containing MFI nanocrystals that induces a compact membrane layer at the support surface in a single‐step membrane synthesis. These one‐step crystallized MFI hollow fiber membranes show excellent characteristics for butane isomer separation ( n ‐butane permeance > 10 −7 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 and n ‐butane/ i ‐butane separation factors > 50 ), as well as for removal of natural gas liquids (butane, propane, and ethane) from methane at elevated feed pressures up to 9 bar. It is further demonstrated that the scalability of the current strategy by successful fabrication of a high‐quality ten‐membrane module in a single synthesis batch. Abstract : Thin (<1 µm) and highly selective MFI zeolite membranes are prepared on ceramic hollow fibers in a one‐step crystallization. A concentrated precursor gel containing MFI nanocrystals induces compact heterogeneous crystallization of a membrane without a separate seeding step. This synthesis strategy shows scalability and excellent performance in butane isomer splitting and natural gas liquids (NGLs) removal from methane.