Estimation of Pore Charge on Zirconia Membrane Prepared by Sol-gel Route Using Zeta Potential Measurement

Estimation of Pore Charge on Zirconia Membrane Prepared by Sol-gel Route Using Zeta Potential Measurement

Zirconia membrane was prepared in the sol-gel process by filtering viscous colloidal zirconia sol through microporous alumina support and gelling followed by sintering at 743 K. The scanning electron micrograph show that mean pore size was 543 nm and pore density was 1.47×107/cm2.The filtration characteristics during membrane layer formation showed that the membrane layer formation started after 40 min. The membrane layer thickness and the porosity of the membrane were determined gravimetrically by finding out the amount of water present in the pores. The membrane layer thickness was found to be 3 micron and the porosity was found out to be 0.38. The pore charge density was estimated from the particle charge density, pore density, pore diameter and the thickness of the membrane layer.