Tuning aluminum spatial distribution in ZSM-5 membranes: a new strategy to fabricate high performance and stable zeolite membranes for dehydration of acetic acid.

A novel ZSM-5 membrane with a low Si/Al ratio and homogeneous aluminum spatial distribution was achieved from an organic template-free inorganic gel in the presence of both OH(-) and F(-) ions and the obtained ZSM-5 membrane exhibited excellent selectivity and high flux and stability for dehydration of acetic acid in a wide AcOH content range.