Permeation studies on oriented single-crystal ferrierite membranes

Abstract

Large, high-quality, single crystals of pure-silica ferrierite are synthesized, and the structure is described. Selected individual crystals (approximately 600 μm X 500 μm X 20 μm) are mounted in a membrane configuration so that only the 10-membered-ring channels (5.4 Å X 5.4 Å X 4.2 Å) or the 8-membered-ring channels (4.6 Å X 3.7 Å X 3.0 Å) are accessible for gas-molecule permeation. The first examples of transport exclusively through 8- or 10-membered-ring channel systems are reported and obtained through crystal orientation in the membrane. A series. of adsorption experiments are conducted to help select suitable probe molecules and evaluate the role of adsorption in the permeation process for single-crystal membranes. Methane, n-butane, isobutane and nitrogen probe molecules are used to study intracrystalline sorption and transport effects for different crystal orientations, pressures and temperatures. Both pure-gas selectivities and mixed-gas separation factors are reported. A mixed-gas separation factor of n-butane/isobutane = 116 for the 10-membered-ring orientation of the crystal at 383 K and a transmembrane pressure difference of 1.01 X 10^5 Pa are found using this technique. In addition, molecular sieving is observed for the 8-membered-ring orientation of the crystal since methane, but not butane, transport is observed for this crystal orientation.

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