Preparation of Al2O3 Supports for Thin Membrane Fabrication

Year 2018, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 191 - 204, 01.09.2017

Berna Topuz , Ali Semih Yurttas Ali Altunsoy

https://doi.org/10.18596/jotcsa.351708

Cited By: 2

Abstract

In this study, macroporous a-alumina
supports were prepared by using vacuum assisted filtration of α-Al₂O₃suspensions
with different particle size.
The average particle sizes of the powders are 400 and 200 nm. The prepared supports had smooth and
uniform surface microstructure and well suited for the fabrication of thin continuous
membrane. The microstructure consists of a random
close packing of 200 nm particles led to improved surface uniformity and
roughness. ZnO spheres were prepared by homogeneous precipitation and added
to the colloidal suspension to modify the support structure and increase the
support flux. Structural parameters such as pore diameter and
tortuosity of the prepared macroporous supports were estimated by using He, N₂,
CO₂ permeance measurements. Slight
pressure dependence in the permeance values indicated the contribution of viscous
flow to the Knudsen flow. The supports
prepared by alumina powder with a larger particle size exhibited He permeance of three times
higher than that of prepared with a smaller particle size. The
addition of ZnO resulted in the increase in He permeance value significantly
for the support prepared by 400 nm particles in size. He permeance was in a
range of 8.5-8.7x10^-6 mol/(m²sPa)
which is very close to the desired value of 1x10^-5 mol/(m²sPa).

Keywords

membrane, support, alumina, high flux, colloidal processing

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