Development of Methanol Permselective FAU-Type Zeolite Membranes and Their Permeation and Separation Performances

Abstract

The separation of non-aqueous mixtures is important for chemical production, and zeolite membranes have great potential for energy-efficient separation. In this study, the influence of the framework structure and composition of zeolites on the permeation and separation performance of methanol through zeolite membranes were investigated to develop a methanol permselective zeolite membrane. As a result, the FAU-type zeolite membrane prepared using a solution with a composition of 10 SiO2:1 Al2O3:17 Na2O:1000 H2O showed the highest permeation flux of 86,600 μmol m−2 s−1 and a separation factor of 6020 for a 10 wt% methanol/methyl hexanoate mixture at 353 K. The membrane showed a molecular sieving effect, reducing the single permeation flux of alcohol with molecular size for single-component alcohols. Moreover, the permeation flux of methanol and the separation factor increased with an increase in the carbon number of the alcohols and methyl esters containing 10 wt% methanol. In this study, the permeation behavior of FAU-type zeolite membranes was also discussed based on permeation data. These results suggest that the FAU-type zeolite membrane has the potential to separate organic solvent mixtures, such as solvent recycling and membrane reactors.

Solubility of 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid in Pure and Mixed Organic Solvent Systems at 293 K Predicted Using Hansen Solubility Parameters

“…While this alone does not distinguish them relative to the other solvents studied, both are known to report strong dipole−dipole interactivity and to readily form strong hydrogen bonds with water and organic compounds. 27,28 DMSO has further been identified as having an unusually high dielectric constant, which allows for easy charge separation and excellent solvation capacity, 29 and excels at disrupting crystalline lattices. 27 These combined effects may lead to a unique ability to solubilize much more FDCA than the other solvents studied.…”

“… 21 Specifically, small molecules like MeOH or ACN may exhibit solubility behaviors that diverge from those anticipated based on their HSP values. MeOH, at 0.380 nm in molecular diameter, 30 has been specifically cited as falling into this boundary effect category. 21 …”

Evaluation of FAU-type Zeolite Membrane Stability in Transesterification Reaction Conditions

“…FAU-type zeolite membranes were synthesized on the outside of porous α-alumina support tubes (outer diameter: 3 mm, mean pore diameter: 0.3 μm, porosity: 50%) by a secondary growth method as previously reported [ 7 , 9 ]. A synthesis solution was prepared by stirring a mixture of sodium hydroxide, sodium aluminate, sodium silicate solution, and de-ionized water for 4 h at room temperature.…”

“…These membranes have been reported methanol separation from organic solutions such as n-butyl acetate [ 2 ], methyl methacrylate [ 3 ], toluene [ 4 ] dimethyl carbonate [ 5 ], and methyl tert-butyl ether [ 5 , 6 ]. The authors have previously developed faujasite (FAU-type) zeolite membrane to separate methanol from alcohols and esters in transesterification reactions [ 7 ]. The developed FAU-type zeolite membrane with large pores displayed a high methanol flux of 10 kg m −2 h −1 and a separation factor of 6020 for a 10 wt% methanol/methyl hexanoate mixture.…”