Jaap F. Vente

Long-term pervaporation performance of microporous methylated silica membranes

The incorporation of methyl groups in microporous silica membranes was proven to enhance the service time in the dehydration of a butanol-water mixture at 95 degrees C from a few weeks to more than 18 months with a water flux of about 4 kg m(-2) h(-1) and a selectivity between 500 and 20 000.

Stable Hybrid Silica Nanosieve Membranes for the Dehydration of Lower Alcohols

A thirst for water: Organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanosieve membranes with narrow pore size distributions were developed for the separation of binary (bio)alcohol/water mixtures, for example, to remove water from wet biofuels during production. These membranes dehydrate lower alcohols and show a stable performance in the presence of significant amounts of acetic acid.

Plasma-deposited hybrid silica membranes with a controlled retention of organic bridges

Hybrid organically bridged silica membranes are suitable for energy-efficient molecular separations under harsh industrial conditions. Such membranes can be useful in organic solvent nanofiltration if they can be deposited on flexible, porous and large area supports. Here, we report the proof of concept for applying an expanding thermal plasma to the synthesis of perm-selective hybrid silica films from an organically bridged monomer, 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane. This membrane is the first in its class to be produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. By tuning the plasma and process parameters, the organic bridging groups could be retained in the separating layer. This way, a defect free film could be made with pervaporation performances of an n-butanol–water mixture comparable with those of conventional ceramic supported membranes made by sol–gel technology (i.e. a water flux of ∼1.8 kg m−2 h−1, a water concentration in the permeate higher than 98% and a separation factor of >1100). The obtained results show the suitability of expanding thermal plasma as a technology for the deposition of hybrid silica membranes for molecular separations.

Viability of ITM Technology for Oxygen Production and Oxidation Processes: Material, System, and Process Aspects

This chapter is devoted to the state of the art of the most important aspects of high temperature ceramic air separation membranes for oxygen production and oxidation processes. Alternative technologies, operational principle, fields of application, energy efficiency and cost aspects, materials science, module design, and sealing will be discussed.

On the enhancement of pervaporation properties of plasma-deposited hybrid silica membranes

The separation performance of a polymeric-supported hybrid silica membrane in the dehydration process of a butanol–water mixture at 95 °C has been enhanced by applying a bias to the substrate during the plasma deposition.

Sol-Gel Approaches in the Synthesis of Membrane Materials for Nanofiltration and Pervaporation

Molecular separation using membranes is widely considered as an energy-efficient alternative for conventional industrial separation techniques. For the preparation of such membranes sol-gel technology is highly suitable. Using sol-gel techniques thin (50–100 nm) amorphous nanoporous layers having pore sizes in the micropore (<2 nm) or fine mesoporous (<5 nm) region can be prepared on a porous substrate. These layered porous systems, usually in tubular form, can be used for nanofiltration, pervaporation and gas separation applications. The application window is dependent on the material properties, such as the pore size and pore size distribution, the interfacial properties of the pores, and the defect density. The success of this technology in actual industrial applications strongly depends on reproducible large scale production of the sol-gel membranes and on a sufficient stability of the membranes with respect to flux and selectivity. In addition the production cost of the full membrane system is an important aspect. Here, we will focus on the more chemical aspects in the membrane preparation. Main topics are synthesis and properties of the sols, the preparation of microporous thin films, and the search for membrane materials that have a high hydrothermal stability.

Emerging Opportunities for Natural Gas Treatment and CO2 Capture

Abstract Natural gas is an environmentally benign fossil fuel as the energy content per carbon atom is high. The high hydrogen content makes it a perfect source for hydrogen production. The expectations are that as the reserves become smaller, less profitable sources will be taking in production. Higher levels of contaminants characterize these. This calls for more advanced purification technologies that are compact, highly efficient, and pose a minimal environmental impact. Like in the Sleipner field (North Sea), the CO2 is anticipated to be captured and stored appropriately. Additional CO2 capture is possible in the power and other energy intensive sectors. Specific possibilities for the mitigation of CO2 emissions include decarbonization of blast furnace gas in the iron and steel industry, and in the hydrogen production.