Amine Templated Zinc Phosphates Phases for Membrane Separations

Abstract

ABSTRACTlight gas separations such as hydrogen recovery and nahual gas purification, and organic molecular separations, such as chiral enantiomers. We focus on zinc phosphates because of the ease in crystallization of new phases and the wide range of pore sizes and shapes obtained. With our hybrid systems of zinc phosphate crystalline phases templated by amine molecules, we are interested in better understanding the association of the template molecules to the inorganic phase, and how the organic transfers its size, shape, and (in some cases) chirality to the bulk. Furthermore, the new porous phases can also be synthesized as thin films on metal oxide substrates. These films allow us to make membranes from our organichnorganic hybrid systems, suitable for diffusion experiments. Characterization techniques for both the bulk phases and the thin films include powder X-ray diffraction, TGA, Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) and Electron Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS).Our research is focused on developing inorganic molecular sieve membranes for INTRODUCTIONSeparation membranes is a technology area for which there exists opportunities for significant energy and cost savings. Examples of industrial needs for gas separation include hydrogen recovery, natural gas purification, and dehydration. In addition, examples of organic separations include molecular chiral purifications.A membrane capable of separating H2 from other gases at high temperatures could recover hydrogen from refinery waste streams, and facilitate catalytic dehydrogenation