Physico-Chemical Properties of Supported and Unsupported γ-Al2-O3 and TiO2 Ceramic Membranes

Abstract

Supported and unsupported γ-Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ ceramic membranes have been prepared by sol-gel techniques from alkoxide precursors. Several physico-chemical properties of these materials have been determined. N₂ sorption analysis has been used to determine pore size distributions and mean pore sizes. Particle sizes of sols as measured by “in situ” quasi-elastic light scattering are discussed in the light of SEM analyses of the sintered membranes prepared from these sols. Crack-free unsupported monoliths of Al₂O₃ with thicknesses up to 100 μm have been prepared. Similarly, supported Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ membranes with thicknesses of 0.5 μm have been produced. Preliminary measurements of the permselectiyities of supported membranes have also been made.