Transport properties of ethane, butanes and their binary mixtures in MFI-type zeolite and zeolite-membrane samples

Transport properties of ethane, butane and their binary mixtures in large crystals of silicalite-1, ZSM-5, and an MFI-zeolite membrane as well as agglomerates ( pellets) of silicalite zeolites have been investigated by the Zero Length Column (ZLC) method. It was found that in the large crystals of silicalite-1 and ZSM-5, and in the membrane sample desorption of iso-butane was controlled by micropore diffusion, while in the case of pelleted silicalite sample it was controlled by macropore diffusion. The effective thickness of the zeolite membrane can be reasonably evaluated by comparing the diffusivity data obtained from the ZLC and gas permeation measurements. Desorption of ethane and n-butane in the large crystals of silicalite-1 and ZSM- 5 and the membrane sample is attributed to both equilibrium effects and micropore diffusion. The diffusivity of ethane is significantly reduced in the presence of iso-butane giving rise to a micropore diffusion-controlled process. Furthermore, diffusion of iso-butane in the zeolite samples is affected by the counter flow of ethane.