MFI-Type Zeolite Nanosheets Coated Ceramic Membranes for Brine Pervaporation Desalination

Securing water sustainability for the rapidly growing population and global economy is an increasing challenge for the human society. Fresh water production from seawater and industrial and municipal produced water is a key part of the solution to the water issues. This presentation reports our recent work on the development of MFI-type nanosheets coated ceramic membrane for high concentration brine desalination. The new zeolite membranes, which are made of MFI zeolite nanosheets (thickness 5 – 20 nm) with large aspect ratios (i.e. lateral length to thickness ration of 50 - 150) and very small membrane ultrathin (thickness<300 nm), are tested for brine (salt concentration up to 20 wt.%) pervaporation desalination and compared to MFI zeolite membranes made by conventional in situ crystallization method. The zeolite nanosheet-coated membranes has substantially outperformed the conventional in-situ grown, randomly oriented zeolite membranes in terms of salt rejection and water flux.