Preparation of Pd composite membrane via organic-inorganic activation method in electroless plating technique

A palladium composite membrane was prepared via electroless plating technique using organic-inorganic method during activation process. the ceramic support surface was modified by two tio2-boehmite and one γ-alumina layers to avoid pd penetration in support pores. thin and defect-free pd composite membrane was obtained by creating a relative smoothness on the ceramic support and using pd nanoparticles in the activated layer. the resulting membrane showed an infinite selectivity for h2/ar with h2 flux in the range of 0.005-0.035 mol/m2s depending on operating conditions. the hydrogen flux was linearly proportional to the pressure difference across the membrane at different temperatures and then the pressure exponent n was very close to 1. according to linear relationship of arrhenius plot, the activation energy ea of pd membrane was calculated to be 22.54 kj/mol. h2 permeance kept over 0.023 mol/m2s and the separation factor of h2/ar over infinite at 773 k for 240 h, confirming high potential of the prepared membrane in h2 purification at high temperatures.