Inorganic Membrane Technology

Abstract

The objective of this program is to develop a variety of inorganic based high temperature separation membranes. Organic membranes are limited by temperature (<100°C) and chemical environments, and are unsuitable for high temperature applications. The higher temperature stabilities of inorganic materials make them ideal candidates for high temperature membrane applications. Polymers with inorganic backbone structures, such as the polyphosphazenes, are being examined for mid-temperature membrane separation applications (100°C–350°C). Metallic and ceramic membrane materials are being examined for high temperature separation applications (350°C–1000°C). The liquid and gas membrane test systems developed for this program are described. Preliminary results on the separation properties of poly[bis(2,2,2 trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene± membranes are reported for dilute aqueous methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and phenol feedstreams.