SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF SULPHONIC ACID 3-MERCAPTOPROPYLTRIMETHOXYSILANE FUNCTIONALISED SILICALITE-1 MEMBRANE

10% and 20% of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane was introduced into the silicalite-1 pore-structure by utilising in situ deposition method and subsequently oxidized to sulphonic acid silicalite-1 membrane. The resulting organic-inorganic hybrid membrane was characterized for its crystallinity and orientation (XRD), surface morphology and thickness (SEM) and elements present in the membrane (EDAX). Sulphonic acid functionalised silicalite-1 membrane is a new type of catalytic shape selective membrane which may be useful for combined separation and reaction process.