Separation of benzene and cyclohexane mixtures using an NaY-type zeolite membrane

An NaY-type zeolite membrane was formed on the outer surface of a 1.7-mm I.D. porous α-Al2O3 support tube using a hydrothermal synthesis. NaY-type zeolite powder was also prepared by the same procedure. The permeation and separation characteristics of single-component benzene (B) and cyclohexane (C), as well as an approximately equimolar mixture thereof, were investigated using the membrane at permeation temperatures of 358–413K. For the single-component systems, C permeated through the membrane faster than B, and the permeances to B and C increased with increase in permeation temperature in the ranges (0.6–3.0)×10−7 and (2.3–6.4)×10−7 mol m−2 sec−1 Pa−1, respectively. When the mixture was fed, however, B permeated faster than C, and the separation factor was dependent on the partial pressures on both the feed and permeate sides. The B/C separation factor reached 107 at a permeation temperature of 373K. The amounts of B and C, which were adsorbed to the NaY-type zeolite powder, were also determined at thi...