Liquid and gas separation abilities of carbon membranes synthesized using hydrothermal method

Abstract

Carbon membranes comprising micropores were successfully synthesized for the first time on ceramic supports using a hydrothermal method, and their liquid and gas separation abilities were evaluated. The activation temperature was observed to affect both the microstructure and chemical composition of the membranes. The membrane activated at the optimum activation temperature of 1173 K exhibited good ethanol/water separation ability, with a separation factor of approximately 8.1 for a 5 mol % ethanol aqueous solution. Finally, the excellent water resistance of this optimal membrane was confirmed.