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Membranes
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Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications
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Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2024) | Viewed by 12384

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Interests: zeolite membrane; silica membrane; thermal conducting film; gas separation; liquid separation; membrane catalysis
Prof. Dr. Genghao Gong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
Interests: organic membrane; organic-inorganic hybrid membrane; ultrafiltration; nanofiltration; reverse osmosis; pervaporation; membrane distillation; oily wastewater treatment
Dr. Liang Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: inorganic membrane; water treatment; gas separation; carbon capture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rong Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, China
Interests: ceramic membrane; silica membrane; desalination; reverse osmosis; pervaporation; liquid separation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to this Special Issue, “Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications”, to promote membrane technologies based on a variety of inorganic materials. Energy and environmental issues have been recognized as significant challenges for sustainable development, and inorganic membranes offer great opportunities for efficiently addressing related problems in the field, particularly for applications under harsh conditions. This Special Issue aims to report recent advances in inorganic membranes for energy and environmental applications, covering both fundamental and industrial perspectives. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Membrane preparation (zeolite, silica, carbon, metallic, metal oxide, etc.);
  2. Membrane applications (gas separation, liquid separation, ion separation, fuel cell, chemical production, etc.);
  3. Membrane process development;
  4. Modeling and simulation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Gang Li
Prof. Dr. Genghao Gong
Dr. Liang Yu
Dr. Rong Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inorganic membrane
  • membrane separation
  • membrane preparation
  • process development
  • simulation
  • industrial application
  • energy conversion and production
  • environmental protection
  • water treatment

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5065 KiB  
Article
High-Performance Flexible Hybrid Silica Membranes with an Ultrasonic Atomization-Assisted Spray-Coated Active Layer on Polymer for Isopropanol Dehydration
by Mingjia Liao, He Guan, Hongfen Zuo, Guannan Ren and Genghao Gong
Membranes 2024, 14(7), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14070154 - 12 Jul 2024
Viewed by 868
Abstract
Organic–inorganic hybrid silica materials, incorporating an organic group bridging two silicon atoms, have demonstrated great potential in creating membranes with excellent permselectivity. Yet, the large-scale production of polymer-supported flexible hybrid silica membranes has remained a significant challenge. In this study, we present an [...] Read more.
Organic–inorganic hybrid silica materials, incorporating an organic group bridging two silicon atoms, have demonstrated great potential in creating membranes with excellent permselectivity. Yet, the large-scale production of polymer-supported flexible hybrid silica membranes has remained a significant challenge. In this study, we present an easy and scalable approach for fabricating these membranes. By employing a sol–gel ultrasonic spray process with a single-pass method, we deposited a thin and uniform hybrid active layer onto a porous polymer substrate. We first optimized the deposition conditions, including substrate temperature, the binary solvent ratio of the silica sol, and various ultrasonic spray parameters. The resulting flexible hybrid silica membranes exhibited exceptional dehydration performance for isopropanol (IPA)/water solutions (IPA: 90 wt%) in the pervaporation process, achieving a water flux of 0.6 kg/(m2 h) and a separation factor of around 1300. This work demonstrates that the single-pass ultrasonic spray method is an effective strategy for the large-scale production of polymer-supported flexible hybrid silica membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications)
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15 pages, 9152 KiB  
Article
Pure Hydrogen and Methane Permeation in Carbon-Based Nanoporous Membranes: Adsorption Isotherms and Permeation Experiments
by Matthis Kurth, Mudassar Javed, Thomas Schliermann, Georg Brösigke, Susanne Kämnitz, Suresh K. Bhatia and Jens-Uwe Repke
Membranes 2024, 14(6), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14060123 - 26 May 2024
Viewed by 1204
Abstract
This paper presents the results of adsorption and permeation experiments of hydrogen and methane at elevated temperatures on a carbon-based nanoporous membrane material provided by Fraunhofer IKTS. The adsorption of pure components was measured between 90 °C and 120°C and pressures up to [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of adsorption and permeation experiments of hydrogen and methane at elevated temperatures on a carbon-based nanoporous membrane material provided by Fraunhofer IKTS. The adsorption of pure components was measured between 90 °C and 120°C and pressures up to 45 bar. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm shows the best fit for all data points. Compared to available adsorption isotherms of H2 and CH4 on carbon, the adsorption on the investigated nanoporous carbon structures is significantly lower. Single-component permeation experiments were conducted on membranes at temperatures up to 220 °C. After combining the experimental results with a Maxwell–Stefan surface diffusion model, Maxwell–Stefan surface diffusion coefficients Dis were calculated. The calculated values are in line with an empirical model and thus can be used in future multi-component modeling approaches in order to better analyze and design a membrane system. The published adsorption data fill a gap in the available adsorption data for CH4 and H2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications)
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13 pages, 6584 KiB  
Article
Effect of Long-Term Sodium Hypochlorite Cleaning on Silicon Carbide Ultrafiltration Membranes Prepared via Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition
by Asif Jan, Mingliang Chen, Michiel Nijboer, Mieke W. J. Luiten-Olieman, Luuk C. Rietveld and Sebastiaan G. J. Heijman
Membranes 2024, 14(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14010022 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 2919
Abstract
Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is widely used for the chemical cleaning of fouled ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. Various studies performed on polymeric membranes demonstrate that long-term (>100 h) exposure to NaClO deteriorates the physicochemical properties of the membranes, leading to reduced performance and service life. [...] Read more.
Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is widely used for the chemical cleaning of fouled ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. Various studies performed on polymeric membranes demonstrate that long-term (>100 h) exposure to NaClO deteriorates the physicochemical properties of the membranes, leading to reduced performance and service life. However, the effect of NaClO cleaning on ceramic membranes, particularly the number of cleaning cycles they can undergo to alleviate irreversible fouling, remains poorly understood. Silicon carbide (SiC) membranes have garnered widespread attention for water and wastewater treatment, but their chemical stability in NaClO has not been studied. Low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LP-CVD) provides a simple and economical route to prepare/modify ceramic membranes. As such, LP-CVD facilitates the preparation of SiC membranes: (a) in a single step; and (b) at much lower temperatures (700–900 °C) in comparison with sol-gel methods (ca. 2000 °C). In this work, SiC ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were prepared via LP-CVD at two different deposition temperatures and pressures. Subsequently, their chemical stability in NaClO was investigated over 200 h of aging. Afterward, the properties and performance of as-prepared SiC UF membranes were evaluated before and after aging to determine the optimal deposition conditions. Our results indicate that the SiC UF membrane prepared via LP-CVD at 860 °C and 100 mTorr exhibited excellent resistance to NaClO aging, while the membrane prepared at 750 °C and 600 mTorr significantly deteriorated. These findings not only highlight a novel preparation route for SiC membranes in a single step via LP-CVD, but also provide new insights about the careful selection of LP-CVD conditions for SiC membranes to ensure their long-term performance and robustness under harsh chemical cleaning conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications)
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17 pages, 4786 KiB  
Article
Role of Fe/Co Ratio in Dual Phase Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ–Fe3−xCoxO4 Composites for Oxygen Separation
by Liudmila Fischer, Ke Ran, Christina Schmidt, Kerstin Neuhaus, Stefan Baumann, Patrick Behr, Joachim Mayer, Henny J. M. Bouwmeester, Arian Nijmeijer, Olivier Guillon and Wilhelm A. Meulenberg
Membranes 2023, 13(5), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13050482 - 29 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1817
Abstract
Dual-phase membranes are increasingly attracting attention as a solution for developing stable oxygen permeation membranes. Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ–Fe3−xCoxO4 (CGO-F(3−x)CxO) composites are one group of promising candidates. This study aims to understand the effect of [...] Read more.
Dual-phase membranes are increasingly attracting attention as a solution for developing stable oxygen permeation membranes. Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ–Fe3−xCoxO4 (CGO-F(3−x)CxO) composites are one group of promising candidates. This study aims to understand the effect of the Fe/Co-ratio, i.e., x = 0, 1, 2, and 3 in Fe3−xCoxO4, on microstructure evolution and performance of the composite. The samples were prepared using the solid-state reactive sintering method (SSRS) to induce phase interactions, which determines the final composite microstructure. The Fe/Co ratio in the spinel structure was found to be a crucial factor in determining phase evolution, microstructure, and permeation of the material. Microstructure analysis showed that all iron-free composites had a dual-phase structure after sintering. In contrast, iron-containing composites formed additional phases with a spinel or garnet structure which likely contributed to electronic conductivity. The presence of both cations resulted in better performance than that of pure iron or cobalt oxides. This demonstrated that both types of cations were necessary to form a composite structure, which then allowed sufficient percolation of robust electronic and ionic conducting pathways. The maximum oxygen flux is jO2 = 0.16 and 0.11 mL/cm2·s at 1000 °C and 850 °C, respectively, of the 85CGO-FC2O composite, which is comparable oxygen permeation flux reported previously. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications)
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14 pages, 14672 KiB  
Article
High-Performance γ-Al2O3 Multichannel Tube-Type Tight Ultrafiltration Membrane Using a Modified Sol-Gel Method
by Danyal Naseer, Jang-Hoon Ha, Jongman Lee, Hong Joo Lee and In-Hyuck Song
Membranes 2023, 13(4), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13040405 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2061
Abstract
We introduced a modified sol-gel method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an additive to improve the permeability of γ-Al2O3 membranes by minimizing the thickness of the selective layer and maximizing the porosity. First, the analysis revealed that the thickness of [...] Read more.
We introduced a modified sol-gel method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an additive to improve the permeability of γ-Al2O3 membranes by minimizing the thickness of the selective layer and maximizing the porosity. First, the analysis revealed that the thickness of γ-Al2O3 decreased as the concentration of PVA increased in the boehmite sol. Second, the properties of the γ-Al2O3 mesoporous membranes were greatly influenced by the modified route (method B) compared to the conventional route (method A). The results showed that the porosity and surface area of the γ-Al2O3 membrane increased, and the tortuosity decreased considerably using method B. This effect was attributed to the adsorption of PVA molecules on the surface of the boehmite particles, which depended on the synthesis route. The experimentally determined pure water permeability trend and the Hagen–Poiseuille mathematical model confirmed that the modified method improved the performance of the γ-Al2O3 membrane. Finally, the γ-Al2O3 membrane fabricated via a modified sol-gel method with a pore size of 2.7 nm (MWCO = 5300 Da) exhibited a pure water permeability of over 18 LMH/bar, which is three times higher than that of the γ-Al2O3 membrane prepared using the conventional method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications)
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Review

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31 pages, 7092 KiB  
Review
Ion–Conducting Ceramic Membrane Reactors for the Conversion of Chemicals
by Zhicheng Zhang, Wanglin Zhou, Tianlei Wang, Zhenbin Gu, Yongfan Zhu, Zhengkun Liu, Zhentao Wu, Guangru Zhang and Wanqin Jin
Membranes 2023, 13(7), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13070621 - 25 Jun 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2710
Abstract
Ion–conducting ceramic membranes, such as mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) membranes and mixed proton–electron conducting (MPEC) membranes, have the potential for absolute selectivity for specific gases at high temperatures. By utilizing these membranes in membrane reactors, it is possible to combine [...] Read more.
Ion–conducting ceramic membranes, such as mixed oxygen ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) membranes and mixed proton–electron conducting (MPEC) membranes, have the potential for absolute selectivity for specific gases at high temperatures. By utilizing these membranes in membrane reactors, it is possible to combine reaction and separation processes into one unit, leading to a reduction in by–product formation and enabling the use of thermal effects to achieve efficient and sustainable chemical production. As a result, membrane reactors show great promise in the production of various chemicals and fuels. This paper provides an overview of recent developments in dense ceramic catalytic membrane reactors and their potential for chemical production. This review covers different types of membrane reactors and their principles, advantages, disadvantages, and key issues. The paper also discusses the configuration and design of catalytic membrane reactors. Finally, the paper offers insights into the challenges of scaling up membrane reactors from experimental stages to practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inorganic Membranes for Energy and Environmental Applications)
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