Mathematical modelling of multicomponent transport in silicalite-1/α-alumina membrane
Advancing the chemical engineering fundamentals
Membranes and Membrane Science - I (T2-8a)
Keywords: silicalite-1, membrane, modelling, semi-open W-K cell, separation
Composite ceramic-zeolite membranes are promising candidates for various separation and catalytic processes. Ceramic-zeolite tailor-made separation membranes could provide i) selective separations of various gas mixtures in industrially important applications (e.g. n-butane/isobutane separation), ii) selective separative pore wall allowing to overcome the thermodynamic limits of the reactant conversion in membrane reactors. In this respect, synthesis and characterization of ceramic-zeolite membranes with evaluation of structural, permeation and separation properties is widely studied by many authors.
The present study is mainly focused on mass transport modelling through composite silicalite-1/a-alumina membranes and support contribution to overall mass transport and separation of prepared membranes.
Overall transport properties of a membrane are determined by number and nature of defects as well as textural properties of a support. Pore size distribution of support and interaction of pore surface with permeating species determine transport, which effects species composition on zeolite layer/support interface and consequently separation efficiency of a composite membrane.
The dynamic permeations of binary mixtures and single components in a semi-open Wicke-Kallenbach cell were used to measure total pressure difference and gas mixture composition in a closed compartment. These data were treated by a mathematical model based on Dusty-gas and Maxwell-Stefan-Krishna theory where the effects of support layer were taken into account during calculations. Resulting system of PDEs, ODEs and AEs is solved by a home-made general simulation FORTRAN program that is based on a method of lines with collocation differentiation in spatial coordinate. The textural and transport parameters were estimated by a multi-response regression method.
The financial support of this research by the Grant Agency of the ASCR under project number 1QS401250509 and by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports under project number MSM 604 613 73 01 is gratefully acknowledged.
Presented Tuesday 18, 16:20 to 16:40, in session Membranes and Membrane Science - I (T2-8a).
