Exploring the potential and design of zeolite nanosheets as pervaporation membranes for ethanol extraction
Journal
Chemical Communications
Journal Volume
54
Journal Issue
94
Pages
13200-13203
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations are employed to demonstrate the potential of zeolite nanosheets as pervaporation membranes for ethanol extraction. Our results show that zeolite nanosheets can provide orders of magnitude higher fluxes compared to currently available membranes and achieve outstanding separation factors. The dominant role of membrane surfaces in determining the separation performance is also identified and explored at an atomic level. Developing nanosheet membranes with hydrophobic surfaces and/or with a minimal surface silanol density represents the keys to enable highly selective separation processes. ? The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Subjects
alcohol
nanosheet
silanol
zeolite
Article
atom
biomass fermentation
concentration (parameters)
diffusion flux
extraction
hydrophilicity
molecular dynamics
pervaporation
surface area
Type
journal article