Abstract
Zeolite-filled liquid membranes were prepared by coating zeolite particles (2-3 μm) and triethylene glycol (TEG) mixture on a hydrophobic microporous membrane. Permeation experiments for the dehumidification of air were conducted using the zeolite-filled liquid membranes under reduced pressure at the permeate side. To reduce the air permeation rate to suitable levels, the membrane thickness should be over 300 μm. The dehumidification performance of the zeolite-filled membrane was comparable to the supported liquid membrane using TEG liquid. The ideal separation factor of water vapor over air was 25 for the zeolite 3A (60 wt%)-TEG liquid membrane. The present zeolite-liquid membrane has advantages in membrane preparation and durability compared to the supported liquid membrane or zeolite-filled polymer membrane.
