Preparation of Composite Microporous Silica Membranes Using TEOS and 1,2-Bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane as Precursors for Gas Separation

This paper reports on a new microporous composite silica membrane prepared via acid-catalyzed polymeric route of sol-gel method with tetraethylorthosilicate(TEOS)and a bridged silsesquioxane[1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane, BTESE]as precursors.A stable nano-sized composite silica sol with a mean volume size of^5 nm was synthesized. A 150 nm-thick defect-free composite silica membrane was deposited on disk support consisting of macroporous α-Al2O3 and mesoporousγ-Al2O3 intermediate layer by using dip-coating approach,followed by calcination under pure nitrogen atmosphere.The composite silica membranes exhibit molecular sieve properties for small gases like H2,CO2,O2,N2,CH4 and SF6 with hydrogen permeances in the range of(1-4)×10 -7mol·m -2·s -1·Pa -1(measured at 200°C,3.0×105 Pa).With respect to the membrane calcined at 500°C,it is found that the permselectivities of H 2 (0.289 nm)with respect to N2(0.365 nm),CH4(0.384 nm)and SF6(0.55 nm)are 22.9,42 and>1000,respectively, which are all much higher than the corresponding Knudsen values(H2/N2=3.7,H2/CH4=2.8,and H2/SF6=8.5).

Influence of Water Vapor on Silica Membrane： Adsorption Properties and Percolation Effect

The influence of water vapor on silica membrane with pore size of ,-4A has been investigated in terms of adsorption properties and percolation effect at 50 and 90 ℃. Two methods are employed： spectroscopic ellipsometry for water vapor adsorption and gas permeation of binary mixture of helium and H2O The adsorption behaviors on the silica membrane comply with the first-order Langmuir isotherm. The investigation demonstrates that helium flux through the silica membrane decreases dramatically in presence of H20 molecules. The transport of gas molecules through such small pores is believed not to be continuous any more, whereas it is reasonably assumed that the gas molecules hop from one occupied site to another unoccupied one under the potential gradient. When the coverage of H20 molecules on the silica surface increases, the dramatic decrease of helium flux could be related to percolation effect, where the adsorbed H20 molecules on the silica surface block the hopping of helium molecules.

Preconcentration and Determination of Chromium Species Using Octadecyl Silica Membrane Disks and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A novel and selective method for the fast determination of trace amounts of chromium species in water samples has been developed. The procedure is based on the selective formation of chromium diethyldithiocarbamate complexes at different pH in the presence of Mn（Ⅱ） as an enhancement agent of chromium signals followed by elution with organic eluents and determination by atomic flame absorption spectrometry. The maximum capacity of the employed disks was found to be （396±3） pg and （376±2） pg for Cr（Ⅲ） and Cr（Ⅵ）, respectively. The detection limit of the proposed method is 49 and 43 ng·L^-1 for Cr（Ⅲ） and Cr（Ⅵ）, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of chromium species Cr（Ⅲ） and Cr（Ⅵ） in different water samples.

Distinguished discriminatory separation of CO2 from its methane-containing gas mixture via PEBAX mixed matrix membrane

Highly selective separation of CO_2 from its methane-containing binary gas mixture can be achieved by using Poly(ether-block-amide)(PEBAX)mixed matrix membranes(MMMs).According to FESEM and AFM analyses,silica-based nanoparticles were homogenously integrated within the polymer matrix,facilitating penetration of CO_2 through the membrane while acting as barrier for methane gas.The membrane containing 4.6 wt% fumed silica(FS)(PEBAX/4.6 wt%FS)exhibits astonishing selectivity results where binary gas mixture of CO_2/CH_4 was used as feed gas.As detected by gas chromatography,in the permeate side,data showed a significant increase of CO_2 permeance,while CH_4 transport through the mixed matrix membrane was not detectable.Moreover,PEBAX/4.6 wt%FS greatly exceeds the Robeson limit.According to data reported on CO_2/CH_4 gas pair separation in the literature,the results achieved in this work are beyond those data reported in the literature,particularly when PEBAX/4.6 wt%FS membrane was utilized.

Inorganic microporous membranes for hydrogen separation:Challenges and solutions

Porous membrane separation is a competitive hydrogen purification technology due to the advantages of environmental friendliness,energy-saving,simple operation,and low cost.Benefiting from the booming development of materials science and chemical science,great progress has been made in H_(2) separation with porous membranes.This review focuses on the latest advances in the design and fabrication of H_(2) separation inorganic microporous membranes,with emphasis on the synthetic strategies to achieve structural integrity,continuity and stability.This review starts with a brief introduction to the membrane separation mechanisms,followed by an elaboration on the synthetic challenges and corresponding solutions of various high-performance inorganic microporous membranes based on zeolites,silica,carbon,and metal-organic frameworks(MOFs).At last,by highlighting the prospects of ultrathin two-dimensional(2D)porous membranes,we wish to shed some light on the further development of new materials and membranes for highly efficient hydrogen separation.

‘‘Soggy sand'' polymer composite nanofber membrane electrolytes for lithium ion batteries

A kind of octanol-modifded silica nanoparticle was fabricated and employed as a framework to form‘‘soggy sand’’electrolyte along with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.‘‘Soggy sand’’and poly（vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene）composite electrolyte membranes were electrospun for the frst time.The properties of this membrane electrolyte have been evaluated by the mechanical test and electrochemical test.The Young’s modulus increased by 275%from 6.8 MPa to 25.5 MPa and the electrical conductivity increased to 7.6 10à5S/cm at 290.15 K when compared to pristine P（VdF-HFP）membrane electrolyte.The conductivity is 3.1 10à4S/cm at 323.15 K.