Preparation of nano pore hydroxysodalite zeolite membranes using of kaolin clay and chemical sources

Zeolite hydroxysodalite (HS) was synthesized successfully by hydrothermal method using the natural kaolin. In the first step, kaolin has been calcined at 700 degrees C to the metakaolinite phase. As a second step, the zeolitisation experiments have been carried out under hydrothermal conditions. The metakaolinite obtained has been reacted with NaOH solutions in autoclaves at 100 degrees C. The crystal species were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and morphology of the supports subjected to crystallization was characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Performance of the hydrophilic Nano zeolite membranes during separation of water/Ethanol mixtures was evaluated. These membranes showed very high selectivity of water for water/Ethanol mixtures. Separation factor as high as 10,000 was obtained for ethanol feed concentration of 90%. Total mass flux was also obtained 0.959 kg/m(2).h. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.