Analysis of a tubular zeolite membrane process

Models for analyzing the adsorption and diffusion of a sorbate from an iner t carrier gas through a zeolite membrane grown on a porous tubular support are proposed. For a system with negligible support resistance, analytical s olutions are developed for the cases of constant and concentration-dependen t diffusivities. A Langmuir isotherm mode has been assumed and chemical pot ential gradient is considered as the driving force for diffusion in order t o represent the concentration dependence of crystal diffusivity. Possibilit y of estimating meaningful kinetic parameters from permeance data is also d iscussed in detail. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.