CHA Zeolite Membrane Composite for Acid Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current zeolite membranes for organic material separation or concentration, such as those using mordenite or ferrierite types, face limitations in permeation flux and stability, especially with organic acids, leading to insufficient treating amounts and separation performance for practical applications.

Innovation Solution

An inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite with a CHA-type zeolite crystal layer, optimized through specific X-ray diffraction patterns and molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3, is developed, allowing for enhanced permeation flux and acid resistance, enabling effective separation or concentration of organic material-containing mixtures, including those with organic acids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional zeolite membranes (mordenite or ferrierite types) are used for organic material separation, then separation performance is achieved, but permeation flux is insufficient and stability deteriorates in the presence of organic acids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepermeation fluxVSAvoidstability with organic acids
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the zeolite membrane by specifying a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 5 or more, which fundamentally alters the membrane's properties to achieve both high permeation flux and stability in organic acid environments. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by enabling the membrane to simultaneously achieve high productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure by forming a zeolite layer on an inorganic porous support, combining the separation capabilities of zeolite with the mechanical strength and porosity of the support material. This composite approach enables both high permeation flux through the porous support and stable separation performance with organic acids through the zeolite layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If polymer membranes are used for membrane separation, then processability is excellent, but heat resistance and chemical resistance are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces polymer materials with inorganic zeolite materials, substituting organic-based membranes with inorganic-based membranes. This substitution maintains the membrane separation functionality while dramatically improving heat resistance and chemical resistance, allowing the membrane to operate in high-temperature and chemically aggressive environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes porous inorganic materials (zeolite and inorganic porous support) to create a membrane structure that provides both mechanical integrity and separation functionality. The porous structure enables high permeation flux while the inorganic composition ensures excellent heat and chemical resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Use of energy by moving object

If zeolite membranes are used for organic material separation, then energy consumption is reduced compared to distillation, but treating amount and separation performance are insufficient for practical use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtreating amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio to 5 or more, which fundamentally changes the membrane's permeation characteristics. This parameter optimization simultaneously increases permeation flux (treating amount) and maintains separation performance, making the low-energy membrane separation process practically viable for industrial applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure of zeolite layer on inorganic porous support combines the advantages of both materials: the zeolite provides selective separation performance while the porous support provides high permeation flux. This combination enables practical treating amounts while maintaining energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composite achieves a sufficiently high permeation flux and stable separation performance, overcoming previous limitations by ensuring both economic viability and broad application range, particularly in the presence of organic acids, with the CHA-type zeolite membrane demonstrating improved hydrophilicity and acid resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a mixture of an organic material and water is flowed to the zeolite membrane composite, and water is selectively allowed to permeate therethrough, whereby the organic material can be separated or concentrated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

a zeolite having hydrophilicity is utilized for selective permeation of water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilicity: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 3

in the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by irradiating the zeolite membrane surface of the membrane composite with an X-ray of CuKa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray diffraction: X-Ray

Implementation Method 4

in the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by irradiating the zeolite membrane surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP3305396B1Inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite, production method therof, and separation method using the composite
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP
  • EP3305396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3305396B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3305396B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite, wherein the inorganic porous support-zeolite membrane composite has a CHA-type zeolite crystal layer as the zeolite membrane and in the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by irradiating the zeolite membrane surface with an X-ray of CuKα, the peak intensity near 2θ=17.9° is 0.5 times or more the peak intensity near 2θ=20.8°.