SYNTHESIS OF NANOPARTICULATE SILICA COMPOSITE MEMBRANES BY THE PRESSURIZED SOL-GEL TECHNIQUE

A crack-free silica composite membrane has been synthesized from a nanoparticulate silica sol (particle diameter <10 nm) by a pressurized sol-gel coating technique developed in this study. The microporous silica layers with an estimated pore radius of 0.78 nm were deposited inside the pores (average pore size of 0.1 mu m) of slip cast alpha-alumina support tubes. The microstructure of the coated layer was controlled by adjusting sol properties and pressurizing conditions. The room-temperature intrinsic permeability of N-2 through the silica membrane layer after heat treatment at 200 degrees C is about 4.9 X 10(-12) mol(.)m/m(2.)s(.)Pa, and the mechanism of gas transport is Knudsen flow. The thermal stability of the silica composite membrane is excellent up to 500 degrees C.