Hollow Fiber Inorganic Membranes for Gas Separations

Abstract
Pure gas permeabilities of He, H2, CO2, N2, and CO were measured for microporous silica hollow fiber membranes as a function of temperature. The transport mechanism for gas permeation is clearly non-Knudsen since several heavier gases permeate faster than lighter gases. An excellent correlation is obtained between permeability and kinetic diameter of the penetrant. The proposed mass transfer mechanism is a combination of surface diffusion and molecular sieving. High ideal separation factors (permeability ratios) are observed at 343 K for H2/N2 and H2/CO of 163 and 62.4, respectively, which compare very favorably with polymeric and molecular sieve gas separation membranes.

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