IMPROVED SILICA MEMBRANES AND PROCESS OF PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

A method of producing a weakly branched silica membranes coated onto a substrate using a two-step catalysed hydrolysis sol-gel process. A tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)/ethanol solution is formed and placed in an i ce bath. An acid/water solution is formed and added to the TEOS/ethanol solutio n to form a TEOS/ethanol/acid/water solution, which inturn is refluxed. A two- step sol is prepared by adding water and nitric acid to the refluxed TEOS/ethanol/acid/water solution and initiating a two-step sol-gel process. From the two-step sol a membrane film layer is deposited on a substrate, for use in a number of applications, including selective separation of gasses.