Sol-gel derived inorganic/organic hybrid separation membrane

Organic/inorganic hybrid separation membranes have been prepared on porous alpha -Al2O3 substrates (pore size, 1-10 mum). The effects of sol synthesis conditions, such as reaction temperature, solvent pH, sol viscosity, n(PTM OS)/n(TEOS) and n(H2O)/n(alkoxide) ratios, on the layer processing and its performance of the resulted membrane were characterized, and an optimum con dition of the procedure was achieved. From FTIR spectra, it is found that t he crack formation in the membrane is principally related to the structure of the Si-O-Si other than the solvent nature and any other factors. The thi ckness of the hybrid layer is about 1 similar to2 mum estimated by the SEM image of cross section. The selectivity of O-2/N-2 and CO2/N-2 as well as C O2/O-2 is 2.30, 4.31 and 1.17 respectively, and the permeability is 75.81 X 10(-17), 75.28 X 10(-17) and 72.78 X 10(-17) m(3)(STP).m/(m(2).s.Pa) when the trans-membrane pressure difference is 0.10 MPa and the n(PTMOS)In(TEOS) ratio is equal to 1.16.