Synthesis of hierarchical LTA zeolite membranes by vapor phase transformation

Weakening the mass transfer resistance inside the selective layer of membrane can effectively increase the membrane separation performance. In this study, we introduce macropores into the conventional LTA zeolite membrane layer, resulting in an unprecedented hierarchical membrane structure. Specifically, the hierarchical LTA zeolite membranes composed of a macroporous zeolite layer and a thin dense top layer (600 nm), are fabricated on rough α-Al2O3 tubular supports by vapor phase transformation method using mesoporous silica spheres (MSPs) as the porogen in the precursor layer. The H2 (N2) permeance of the hierarchical LTA zeolite membrane is near 10 times that of the conventional LTA zeolite membrane, indicating that the hierarchical pore structure can effectively weaken the mass transfer resistance inside the selective layer of membrane. And it has good pervaporation performance for 90 wt% ethanol aqueous solution at 348 K, i.e., the flux can reach 4.54 kg m−2 h−1 with a separation factor of >10,000, which is much higher than that of the conventional LTA zeolite membrane. The preparation of LTA zeolite membranes with hierarchical pore structure using MSPs as a porogen is expected to open up a new way for the construction of zeolite membranes.