ABSTRACT

The chapter provides an overview of ceramic membranes that includes classifications of traditional ceramic membranes and their applications and advancement of ceramic membranes in terms of configurations and novel applications; operating modes of membranes are summarized precisely in this segment for better understanding of the readers. Basic concepts, structural geometry (porous or dense), material of construction, and the applications of conventional membrane separation techniques such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), gas separation, and pervaporation are elaborated. Definitions, types, and structures of ceramic membranes are deliberated. Advanced ceramic membranes, such as membrane crystallizers and emulsifiers—process and advantages in separation over conventional separation methods—are also discussed. A detailed discussion on the catalytic membrane reactor (CMR), catalytic nonpermselective membrane reactor (CNMR), packed-bed membrane reactor (PBMR), packed-bed catalytic membrane reactor (PBCMR), fluidized-bed membrane reactor (FBMR), and fluidized-bed catalytic membrane reactor (FBCMR) is presented. At the end, advantages and disadvantages are elaborated.