Formation and characterization of supported microporous membranes prepared by sol-gel modification techniques

The formation is described of supported microporous membranes (by IUPAC definition r_pore < 1 nm), prepared by modification of mesoporous γ-alumina membranes with polymeric sols. The mesoporous γ-alumina membranes, with a top-layer thickness in the order of 7–10 μm, and with pore radii of 2–2.5 nm, have a very high surface finish (mean roughness 40 nm). The amorphous microporous top-layer thickness is in the order of 60–100 nm. Gas transport properties are effectively improved as is shown by activated permeation and molecular sieve-like separation factors in the order of 50–200 for H₂/CH₄. These microporous top-layers can be prepared from a relatively wide range of sol structures; from inorganic oligomers which are too small to result in significant scattering with SAXS, to polymeric structures with fractal dimensions in the range: 1 <d_f <2.04, and radii of gyration between 0.8 and 4 nm.