Modelling of single gas permeation in real MFI membranes

A novel permeation model for flow through defects and zeolite pores in real MFI membranes, also accounting for substrate effects has been developed. Defect distributions for two types of MFI membranes were determined from porosimetry data using the model, which incorporated the Horvath Kawazoe (micropores) or the Kelvin equation (mesopores). The narrowest (1.08 nm) and also most common defects were found to be separated with a distance of 10–40 μm according to the model. Diffusion coefficients for hydrogen, helium, nitrogen and SF6 in the zeolite were further determined from single gas permeation data using the model using the independently determined defect distribution. The coefficients are consistent with values previously reported in the literature.