GRAFTING GAMMA-ALUMINA MICROPOROUS MEMBRANES BY ORGANOSILANES - CHARACTERIZATION BY PERVAPORATION

gamma alumina microporous membranes, produced from a sol-gel process, were grafted by means of chloro-, methoxy- or ethoxy-organosilanes. Th e grafting conditions were first tested on gamma alumina powders which were characterised by means of thermogravimetric analysis and nitroge n adsorption. The membrane material was studied by means of infrared s pectrometry, nitrogen adsorption and nitrogen permeation. The performa nces of grafted and ungrafted membranes were examined for the separati on by pervaporation of binary mixtures such as water/ethanol, cyclohex ane/toluene, ethanol/cyclohexane and methylethylketone/cyclohexane. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.