Manufacturing strategies for asymmetric ceramic membranes for efficient separation of oxygen from air

Membrane technology has the potential to perform separation tasks more efficiently than other technologies. Polymeric membranes, in particular, are widely used in different applications, while ceramic membranes have captured only limited applications so far. This feature article introduces different types of ceramic membranes, focussing on mixed ionic electronic conductors (MIEC) for separating oxygen from air. The transport processes through the membrane are described briefly, before the necessity of supported membrane structures (asymmetric membrane) is outlined. Membrane microstructure is discussed with regard to its influence on membrane properties as are appropriate manufacturing techniques for the targeted microstructure. Existing module concepts are described and their prospects discussed. Finally, an outlook of the research and development required in the near future is given from the authors' point of view. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.