Characterization of ceramic composite-membranes prepared by ORMOSIL coating sol

Abstract

Sol-gel methods offer many advantages over conventional slip-casting, including the ability to produce ceramic membranes. They are purer, more homogeneous, more reactive and contain a wider variety of compositions. We produced ormosil sol using sol-gel process under different molecular weight of polymer species [polyethylene glycol (PEG)] in total system [Tetraethyl ortho silicate (TEOS) -polyethylene glycol (PEG)]. The properties of as-prepared ormosil sol such as, viscosity, gelation time were characterized. Also, the ceramic membrane was prepared by dip-coating with synthetic sol and its micro-structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The permeability and rejection efficiency of membrane for oil/water emulsion were evaluated as cross-flow apparatus. The ormosil sol coated Membrane is easily formed by steric effect of polymer and it improves flux efficiency because infiltration into porous support decreased. Its flux efficiency is elevated about 200 (l/m(2)center dot h) compared with colloidal sol coated membrane at point of five minutes from starting test.