Module containing zeolite-based membrane and preparation thereof

Details Module containing zeolite-based membrane and preparation thereof Module containing zeolite-based membrane and preparation thereof

1995-01-31

1998-04-28

Fortuna, Ana

Liquid purification or separation

Filter

Supported, shaped or superimposed formed mediums

2105101, 21050025, 210651, 2105021, 427245, 427246, B01D 2900

Patent

active

057440352

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gastight film of zeolites, a zeolite-based membrane, a module provided with such a membrane, a method of producing such a membrane module and the use thereof for a number of processes.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Zeolites and related crystalline materials are known for their properties in the field of separation of gases and/or liquids and of catalytic conversion. Because of the mechanical requirements set for commercial use, membranes are particularly used in the form of modules, i.e. in a membrane housing, in which a zeolite layer is applied to a suitable support.
Different variants have already been proposed for the production of modules, which are all based on the use of auxiliary layers and/or complicated procedures for the production of the membrane and/or the module.
The problem underlying the invention is how to find a novel and simple method of producing membranes and/or modules. A great problem in high-temperature uses is the sealing of the module by which feed and permeate are separated from each other. One possibility is the separation of the locations of sealing and separating. The temperature at the place of the separation layer is adjusted to the desired value, while a part of the module is made gastight. Over this part a temperature gradient can then be provided so that sealing technology already known for low-temperature modules can be applied. A drawback of this solution is that a much complexer module design is required in which the different parts of the separation equipment are to be kept at strongly varying temperatures. This is possible by providing a cooling system (e.g. water cooling) in a fully heated apparatus.
Another possibility is to make use of bonding technology in which too large a difference in compatibility between two materials (difference in thermal expansion coefficients) is removed by providing different intermediate layers, each being the support/membrane system on the one hand and the module housing on the other hand. Such technology has been patented on behalf of the firm of Velterop B.V. of Heerhugowaard (North Holland, The Netherlands), in which a five-layer system is required for a gastight connection of the ceramic support/membrane material (.alpha.-alumina and modified .gamma.-alumina) with the stainless steel module housing. Although such a technology can be excellently formulated per se and can in principle be applied without limitations to a wide variety of materials, a large scale application will prove to be difficult in practice. It is to be considered in this connection that a number of films must be applied in a very homogeneous and uniform manner over relatively large surfaces. Moreover, such a bonding technology will be rather expensive because the different process steps must be taken in succession and an error in one of the process steps results in a complete malfunction in the separating apparatus.
An alternative to be considered with regard to the above compatibility problem is to provide a single layer of a flexible material, which material, however, is stable under process conditions. The flexible material, which can be characterised as a material having a low modulus of elasticity, is provided between the incompatible materials and functions as such as a buffer for taking all the built-up stresses. Here, too, it is of course possible to apply a number of layers, of which particularly the amorphous films (glasses, glazes, enamels) are preferred in connection with the intrinsic flexibility of such materials. Moreover, such materials are not tied down to the chemical composition, so that it is possible to fully adjust the material properties to the desired sealing.
However, all the above solutions are based on the idea that the materials for the membrane film and the porous support on the one hand and the module housing on the other hand are totally different and incompatible. This is indeed often the case because the module housing is frequently made of stainless steel, whereas for ce

REFERENCES:
patent: 5069794 (1991-12-01), Haag et al.

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