Synthesis of tubular ZIF-8 membranes for propylene/propane separation under high-pressure

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 595; p. 117503
• Main Authors: Li, Jinfu, Lian, Haiqian, Wei, Kaifeng, Song, Eryue, Pan, Yichang, Xing, Weihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2020
• Subjects: artificial membranes; C3H6/C3H8 separation; ceramics; coatings; distillation; energy; Gas separation; permeability; propane; propylene; temperature; Tubular membrane; ZIF-8; C3H6/C3H8 separation; Gas separation; Tubular membrane; ZIF-8
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2019.117503

ZIF-8 membrane-based separation of propylene/propane is attractive for reducing the energy and cost of the conventional cryogenic distillation. However, the high-pressure permeation results are rarely reported on the tubular ZIF-8 membranes. In this work, high-quality ZIF-8 membranes were successfully fabricated on the tubular ceramic support. The coating of a PDMS layer can significantly improve the quality and reproducibility of as-synthesized membranes. The effect of permeating temperature (35–100 °C) and feeding pressure (1~6 bar) as well as the feeding compositions on the C3H6/C3H8 separation performance are carefully investigated. The C3H6/C3H8 permeation manners (with or without sweep gas, and under vacuum) on the tubular ZIF-8 membrane are also compared. Concentration polarization is only obviously existed when no sweep gas is used. [Display omitted] •High quality ZIF-8 membranes supported on commercial tubes were fabricated.•High reproducibility of as-synthesized membranes is achieved by a PDMS coating.•C3H6/C3H8 permeation performances under high pressure were carefully investigated.•Different permeation manners of C3H6/C3H8 on ZIF-8 membranes were evaluated.