• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.254-268
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• 2007

Sodium type faujasite(FAU) zeolite layers with diverse materials characteristics(Si/Al ratio, thickness, and structural discontinuity) were hydrothermally grown on a porous $\alpha-Al_2O_3$ tube, and then the $CO_2/N_2$ separation was evaluated at $30^{\circ}C$ for an equimolar mixture of $CO_2$ and $N_2$. Among hydrothermal conditions, $SiO_2$ content in hydrothermal solution seriously affected materials characteristics: with an increment in the $SiO_2$ content, Si/Al ratio, thickness, and structural discontinuity of grown FAU zeolite layer simultaneously increased. The present study reveals that structural discontinuity(intercrystalline voids due to an incomplete densification and cracks induced by GIS Na-P1 phase) is the most important variable affecting the $CO_2/N_2$ separation. Also, it was suggested that the $CO_2$ desorption in permeate side be the rate-determining(slowest) step in the overall $CO_2$ permeation.