New routes to synthesis of reproducible, high-performance supported silicalite-1 membranes

Unsupported and supported silicalite-1 zeolite membranes were synthesised in a highly reproducible manner. The type of silica sources used in the syntheses determines the thickness and porosity of the layers. Tetraethylorthosilicate was found to be the best silica source for making dense, well-intergrown membranes without any visible macropores between the crystals that form the membranes. These synthetically optimised zeolite membranes are characterised by significantly higher n-butane fluxes compared to the highest values reported in the literature (at a given n-butane to iso-butane flux ratio).