The first large-scale pervaporation plant using tubular-type module with zeolite NaA membrane

NaA zeolite, membranes composed of a continuous intergrowth of NaA zeolite crystals had been synthesized hydrothermally on the surface of a porous tub ular support (12 = outer diameter, 80 cm. length and I tra average pore siz e). The membrane was highly selective for permeating water preferentially w ith the high permeation flux in pervaporation (PV) and vapor permeation. Th us, the first large-scale PV plant which produces 530 l/h of solvents (EtOH , IPA, MtOH, etc) at less than 0.2 wt.% of water from 90 wt.% solvent at 12 0 degreesC has been put into industrial operation. The plant is equipped wi th 16 modules, each of which consists of 125 pieces of NaA zeolite membrane tubes. The successful fabrication of the plant and the high level of PV pr operties of the module are discussed. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Scienc e B.V.