Palladium membranes have been identified as the membranes of choice in hydrogen separation and purification processes due to their infinite selectivity to hydrogen when defect free. Despite their potentials in hydrogen processes, palladium membranes pose challenges in terms of cost and embritllement which occurs when palladium comes in contact with hydrogen at temperatures below 573 K. The challenges posed by palladium membranes have encouraged research into nonpalladium based membranes such as Silica and Alumina. This thesis investigates hydrogen permeation and separation in palladium membranes and also the use of nonpalladium membranes, Silica and Alumina membranes in hydrogen permeation. In this study, hydrogen permeation behavior was investigated for 3 types of membranes, Palladium, Silica and Alumina. Thin palladium films were deposited onto a 30 nm porous ceramic alumina support using both conventional and modified electroless plating methods. The hydrogen separation and purification behavior of the membranes were investigated including the effect of annealing at higher temperatures. Gas permeation through Silica and Alumina membranes was investigated for 5 single gases including hydrogen. The Silica and Alumina membranes were fabricated using the dip coating method and their hydrogen permeation behavior of investigated at different coatings. A thin Palladium (Pd1) membrane with a thickness of 2 μm was prepared over porous ceramic alumina support using the electroless plating method and a maximum hydrogen flux of 80.4 cm3 cm-2 min-1 was observed at 873 K and 0.4 bar after annealing the membrane. The hydrogen flux increased to 94.5 cm3 cm-2 min-1 at same temperature and pressure for the Palladium membrane (Pd2) prepared using the modified electroless plating method. The hydrogen flux increased to 98.1 cm3 cm2 min-1 for the palladium/silver (Pd/Ag) membrane prepared using the codeposition electroless plating method and the PdAg membrane avoided the hydrogen embrittlement at low temperature. Hydrogen purity for the membrane was also investigated for a reformate gas mixture and a maximum hydrogen purity of 99.93% was observed at 873 K and 0.4 bar. The hydrogen purity was observed to increase as a result of the addition of sulphur which surpresses the inhibition effect of the carbon monoxide in the reformate gas mixture. The presence of CO and CO2 was observed to lead to an increase of the exponential factor n above 0.5 as a result of the inhibiting effect of these compounds on hydrogen permeation. The value of the exponential factor n depicting the rate limiting step to hydrogen permeation in the palladium and palladium-alloy membranes was also investigated. Deviations from Sievert’s law were observed from the Palladium membranes inverstigated in this work. In single gas hydrogen permeation investigation for the Pd1 membrane prepared using the conventional electroless plating method, the value of the exponential factor n = 0.5 in accordance with Sievert’s law. However, for the mixed gas hydrogen separation investigation n=0.62 at 573 K which decreased to 0.55 when the membrane was annealed at 873 K. For the Pd2 membrane prepared using the modified elctroless plating method, n=1 at 573 K but the value decreased to 0.76 for the mixed gas hydrogen separation investigation at same temperature which depicts a deviation from Sievert’s law. In all the investigations carried out for the Pd3 palladium alloy membrane prepared using the co-deposition Pd/Ag electroless plating method at same conditions with the Pd1 and Pd2 membranes, n=0.5 in accordance with Sievert’s law. For the Nonpalladium based Silica and ceramic Alumina membranes, investigations were carried out for hydrogen permeation and 5 other single gases; He, CO2, CH4, N2 and Ar. For the Silica membranes, a maximum hydrogen permeance of 3.12-7 x 10 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 at 573 K and 0.4 bar was observed which increased to 4.05 x 10-7 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 at 573 K and 0.4 when the membrane was modified with Boehmite sol prior to deposition of the Silica layer. The permeance for hydrogen and the 5 single gases was investigated for the alumina membrane at 5 successive coatings. It was observed that the commercial alumina membrane displayed a maximum hydrogen permeance of 9.72 x 10-7 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 at 573 K and 0.4 bar which increased to 9.85 x 10-7 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 at same temperature and pressure when the membrane was modified with Boehmite sol.

Submitted by Emanuel Varela Cardoso (emanuel.varela@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-06-25T21:56:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MIRELE COSTA DA SILVA – TESE (UAEMa) 2015.pdf: 9764394 bytes, checksum: a51abce77e60acf4e1faa93511e08be8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-25T21:56:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MIRELE COSTA DA SILVA – TESE (UAEMa) 2015.pdf: 9764394 bytes, checksum: a51abce77e60acf4e1faa93511e08be8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-28 / Capes / As membranas cerâmicas anisotrópicas obtidas a partir de pós sintéticos estão ampliando suas aplicações industriais, devido principalmente as vantagens que apresentam em termos de permeabilidade e resistência (química, térmica e mecânica). Este trabalho tem como objetivo obter membranas anisotrópicas com a camada filtrante de alumina sintetizada pelo método Pechini para aplicações em processos de separação. Foram preparadas membranas com geometria na forma de discos e posteriormente membranas tubulares com os melhores parâmetros avaliados na geometria de discos. O suporte foi preparado com uma massa composta por alumina comercial e bentonita, a camada intermediária foi obtida com uma argila caulinítica e a camada filtrante com a alumina sintetizada. As massas utilizadas para obtenção das membranas foram caracterizadas por análise química e térmica, difração de raios X (DRX), distribuição granulométrica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A alumina foi sintetizada pelo método Pechini nas relações 2:1, 3:1 e 4:1 de ácido cítrico:cátion metálico, calcinadas em diferentes temperaturas e caracterizadas por análise térmica, DRX, distribuição granulométrica, MEV e análise textural por BET. Cada camada que compôs a membrana foi caracterizada por MEV, microscopia ótica, porosimetria por intrusão ao mercúrio e análises de fluxo com água dessalinizada. A camada intermediária e a filtrante foram obtidas através da deposição de dispersões por dip-coating. Os resultados apresentaram membranas confeccionadas com sucesso, atingindo permeabilidade de 317,53 L/h.m2 Bar. As membranas foram eficientes para aplicação no tratamento de água oleosa, reduzindo a concentração de 70 mg/L de óleo em água em 100%; para aplicação na separação de índigo blue a membrana atingiu 100% de rejeição das partículas sólidas de uma solução com concentração de 0,25 g/L de índigo blue em água; no tratamento de águas utilizando o efluente bruto de um rio a membrana reduziu entre outros a cor, turbidez, íons, amônia, sílica e ferro e para aplicação na separação da proteína caseína atingiu 97,4% de rejeição em uma solução com concentração de 3,08 mg/L da caseína em água. / The anisotropic ceramic membranes obtained from synthetic powders are expanding their industrial applications, mainly because the advantages that present in terms of permeability and resistance (chemical, thermal and mechanical). The aim of this work is to obtain anisotropic membranes with the filtering layer of alumina synthesized by Pechini method for applications in separation processes. Membranes were prepared in the form of discs and later with tubular geometry with the best parameters evaluated on disk geometry. The support has been prepared with a ceramic mass consisted by a commercial alumina and bentonite. The intermediate layer was obtained with kaolinite clay and the filtering layer with synthesized alumina. The ceramic masses used for obtaining the membranes were characterized by chemical and thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Alumina was synthesized by Pechini method in ratios of 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1 of citric acid:metallic cation. It were calcined at different temperatures and characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, and textural analysis by BET. Each layer that composed the membrane was characterized by SEM and optical microscopy, by intrusion mercury porosimetry and flow analysis with desalinated water. The intermediate and filter layer were obtained through the deposition of dispersions by dip -coating. The results showed membranes made with success, free from defects, with permeability of 317.53 L/h m 2 Bar. The membranes were efficient for the application in the treatment of oily water, reducing the concentration of 70 mg/L of oil in water at 100%; for application in separation of indigo blue the membrane reached 100% of rejectio n of solid particles of a solution with concentration of 0.25 g/L of indigo blue; water treatment using the raw sewage of a river the membrane reduced color, turbidity, ions present, ammonia, silica and iron and for application in separation of casein has been reached 97.4% of rejection in a solution with concentration 3.08 mg/mL.