Synthesis and permeation properties of silicalite-1/carbon membranes

Macroporous carbon disks have been used as supports for the growth of continuous silicalite-1 films by both the direct and secondary (i.e., seeded) growth methodology and at conditions different from those used in a previous study. After calcination, the synthesized zeolite/carbon composites were mounted in a Wicke-Kallenbach cell and the permeation of different gases (pure gases and gas mixtures) were analyzed at different pressures and temperatures. The results show that the prepared materials show acceptable membrane properties in the separation of CO2/N-2 and n-C4H10/i-C4H10. Thus, carbon might be envisaged as a possible alternative support to conventional materials such as ceramics or sintered metals because of its interesting properties.