Effect of calcination temperature of kaolin as a support for zeolite membranes

Ceramic membranes specially zeolite membranes are usually used for dewatering of organics by pervaporation. In the previous work, it was observed that kaolin calcined at 1050 °C has a separation factor 19.25 while kaolin calcined at 800 °C does not show any separation activity and its separation factor is equal to 1. In this research, effect of calcination temperature on flux and separation factor of kaolin modules that prepared by electrophoresis as a support of zeolite membranes was investigated. By increasing the kaolin calcination temperature, the flux of membrane increases due to many pores created in the module. This was confirmed by SEM micrographs. The highest flux was about 18 kg/m² h for modules calcined at 1200 °C with ethanol 95%. Their separation factors were almost the same for each module. It was very low but comparable with some porous and non-porous polymeric membranes. Increasing calcination temperature causes module strength to enhance. It was found that the module calcined at 1200 °C may be suitable as a support for zeolite A membranes.