Selective permeation and separation of steam from water–methanol–hydrogen gas mixtures through mordenite membrane

• Published in: Catalysis today Vol. 132; no. 1; pp. 182 - 187
• Main Authors: Sawamura, Ken-Ichi, Shirai, Tsutomu, Takada, Mitsuko, Sekine, Yasushi, Kikuchi, Eiichi, Matsukata, Masahiko
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; Gas separation; General and physical chemistry; Ion-exchange; Membrane reactor; Membranes; Methanol synthesis; Mordenite; Surface physical chemistry; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Zeolite membrane; Zeolites: preparations and properties; Mordenite; Membrane reactor; Gas separation; Methanol synthesis; Zeolite membrane; Gas mixture; Separation; Hydrogen; Water gas; Permeation; Alcohol; Zeolite; Water vapor; Molecular sieve; Heterogeneous catalysis; Synthesis; Alkanol; Membrane; Methanol
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2007.12.005

Separation properties of a mordenite membrane for water–methanol–hydrogen mixtures were studied in the temperature range from 423 to 523 K under pressurized conditions. The mordenite membrane was prepared on the outer surface of a porous alumina tubular support by a secondary-growth method. It was found that water was selectively permeated through the membrane. The separation factor of water/hydrogen and water/methanol were 49–156 and 73–101, respectively. Even when only hydrogen was fed at 0.5 MPa, its permeance was as low as 10 −9 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 up to 493 K, possibly suggesting that water pre-adsorbed in the micropores of mordenite hindered the permeation of hydrogen. The hydrogen permeance dramatically increased to 6.5 × 10 −7 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 at 503 K and reached to 1.4 × 10 −6 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 at 523 K because of the formation of cracks in the membrane. However, the membrane was thermally stabilized in the presence of steam and/or methanol.