Submicrometer-thick b-oriented Fe–silicalite-1 membranes: microwave-assisted fabrication and pervaporation performances

Abstract

A b-oriented seed layer was prepared by rubbing coffin-shaped Fe–silicalite-1 crystals after depositing a chitosan layer on glass, then the continuous, ca. 270 nm-thick and highly b-oriented Fe–silicalite-1 membrane was formed using secondary growth under microwave irradiation for 2 h. The same method has been further applied to fabricate the defect-free and ca. 1 μm-thick b-oriented membrane on an α-Al₂O₃ support, which exhibited a separation factor of 41 and a high total flux of 3.58 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ in separating 5 wt% ethanol/water mixtures at 50 °C.