MOLECULAR-SIEVING EFFECT OF THE ZEOLITE-FILLED SILICONE-RUBBER MEMBRANES IN GAS PERMEATION

Composite membranes, consisting of a highly hydrophobic zeolite, silicalite-1, and PDMS polymer were prepared. Distinct gas permeation effects have been found for these membrane types. A new parameter, the facilitation ratio of zeolite, was introduced to characterize the function of silicalite in the membrane. Using this parameter it was confirmed that silicalite played an important role in the molecular transport and that the altered permeabilities and selectivities were a result of the molecular sieving effect of the silicalite.