Template free synthesis and characterization of ZSM-5 zeolite membrane from MFI nanocrystals and investigation of its gas permeation properties

In this article, MFI nanocrystals have been synthesized in two crystal sizes by two stage varying temperature synthesis procedure using reflux and microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. S-Alumina tubular support was seeded with MFI nanocrystals and ZSM-5 zeolite membrane synthesized on it by secondary growth synthesis technique. Characterization of the membrane by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed formation of monotonous zeolite film. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) asserted ZSM-5 crystalline structure in this membrane. Four different gases including H2, CO, N2, CH4 were used for investigation of permeation process through the synthesized membrane. The effect of pressure and temperature on permeability and selectivity was investigated. The best permeance result was obtained wa 2.58× 10-8 mol/ (m2.s.Pa) for H2 at 298 K and 1.2 bar feed pressure.