A Scalable Process for Thin, Defect-Free Zeolite Membranes

50613-98-I A Scalable Process for Thin, Defect-Free Zeolite Membranes--TDA Research, Inc., 12345 West 52nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-1916; (303) 940-2300 Mr. Jack. D. Sibold, Principal Investigator Mr. John D. Wright, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82694 Amount: $75,000 More efficient separation processes are needed to increase the cost competitiveness of the chemical and petroleum industries. Inorganic, molecular sieving membranes have the desired properties for these separations, but presently they can not consistently be made thin enough and defect-free on large scale supports. This project will modifiy a widely used coating technology to produce thin defect-free zeolite membranes with high fluxes and selectivity for gas separations. Phase I will develop the modified coating process to produce a small pore supported zeolite membrane that demonstrates hydrogen selectivity to light hydrocarbons. Single gas permeances will be measured and selectivities calculated. These results will be used in an engineering analysis to determine the process economics of using these zeolite membranes for a model hydrogen separation. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The production of supported zeolite membrane modules with high hydrogen separation factors and fluxes should have a significant bottom-line effect on several large industrial processes (e.g., ammonia production, refinery operations, methanol synthesis, paraffin to olefin conversions.)_