The first large-scale pervaporation plant using tubular-type module with zeolite NaA membrane

Abstract NaA zeolite membranes composed of a continuous intergrowth of NaA zeolite crystals had been synthesized hydrothermally on the surface of a porous tubular support (12 mm outer diameter, 80 cm length and 1 μm average pore size). The membrane was highly selective for permeating water preferentially with the high permeation flux in pervaporation (PV) and vapor permeation. Thus, the first large-scale PV plant which produces 530 l/h of solvents (EtOH, IPA, MtOH, etc) at less than 0.2 wt.% of water from 90 wt.% solvent at 120°C has been put into industrial operation. The plant is equipped with 16 modules, each of which consists of 125 pieces of NaA zeolite membrane tubes. The successful fabrication of the plant and the high level of PV properties of the module are discussed.