Preparation of zeolite T membranes by microwave-assisted in situ nucleation and secondary growth

Zeolite T membranes were firstly prepared on the α-Al₂O₃ tubes by microwave-assisted in situ nucleation and secondary growth. The obtained membranes were characterized by XRD, SEM, single gas permeation, and pervaporation (PV). In the PV dehydration of ethanol and 2-propanol, the as-synthesized membranes displayed high separation performance. For the 90 wt.% alcohol/water mixtures at 338 K, the water flux reached 1.23 kg m^− 2 h^− 1 for the dehydration of ethanol and 1.52 kg m^− 2 h^− 1 for the dehydration of 2-propanol; both separation factors were higher than 10, 000.