Modelling of n-hexane and 3-methylpentane permeation through a silicalite-1 membrane

The permeation of the single components n-hexane (NC6) and 3-rnethylpentane (3MP) and their mixtures through a silicalite-1 membrane has been investigated. The separation factor in a binary mixture decreases from 57 to 23 with increasing the feed pressure, which is not predicted by the Generalized Maxwell-Stefan (GMS) equations in combination with the Ideal Adsorbed Solution (IAS) theory. The mixture adsorption in the zeolite layer plays a key role in the prediction of the component fluxes of binary mixtures across a silicalite-1 membrane. Plausible reasons for the discrepancy between model predictions and experimental results are discussed.