The titanium-coated polymeric membranes for hydrogen recovery

The polymeric membranes are commercially used for gas separation. The important parameters for their commercial application are good permeabilities and permselectivities. These parameters have a strong dependence on the free volume properties of the material. The membranes alone are generally not suitable when high product purity and recovery is desired. However, the titanium-coated polymeric membranes can solve the problem. Hydrogen molecules when diffuse through metals like titanium and palladium, break into atomic form and recombine after recovery. The binding of metallic clusters on the polymeric material is improved partially by heat treatment, however, good results are obtained by dissolving the coated membranes and recasting them. The permeability of hydrogen in comparison to air has been found to increase 2-5 times. (C) 2002 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.