In situ impregnation−gelation−hydrothermal crystallization synthesis of hollow fiber zeolite NaA membrane

Chitosan-assisted in situ impregnation−gelation−hydrothermal (IGH) crystallization process has been developed for the preparation of hollow fiber zeolite NaA membranes. Firstly, chitosan-zeolite NaA composite hollow fibers were prepared successfully by assistance of a simple homemade tube-in-orifice spinneret. The composite hollow fibers were initially prepared by in situ impregnation–gelation–hydrothermal transformation of chitosan-silica hollow fibers in aluminate solution. Zeolite NaA membranes can be subsequently obtained on the outer surface of chitosan-zeolite NaA composite hollow fibers by in situ microwave hydrothermal treatment. The zeolite crystals in the composite hollow fibers serve as seeds for the growth of zeolite membrane. Moreover, the chitosan-silica hollow fibers were prepared by solidification of chitosan hollow fibers, which were formed in the tube-in-orifice spinneret from a chitosan-silica sol viscous aqueous solution, in the sodium hydroxide solution. Pervaporation for separation of 90 wt% ethanol aqueous solution was employed to examine the obtained membranes. The hollow fiber membranes showed high permeation flux and high stability.