Preparation of silicoaluminophosphate-34 zeolite on different macroporous supports for permeability and selectivity of CO2/CH4

•Use of several materials support to SAPO-34 zeolite were suggested.•The prepared materials were used to purify biogas.•Natural pumice stone was teste as support of SAPO-34 zeolite.•Permeability and selectivity of CO2 and CH4 was demonstrated. In this study, the zeolite silicoaluminophosphate-34 (SAPO-34) was synthesized using Al(OH)3 and SiO2 obtained from waste recovery as sources of aluminum and silicon. Tablets of compacted crystals were prepared and the crystal growth of SAPO-34 was promoted through several steps of hydrothermal treatment on non-conventional macroporous supports such as pumice stone and 500 mesh stainless steel. Homogeneous crystal growth was achieved on the surface of the supports after three treatments of 24 h. The CO2/CH4 separation selectivity was evaluated using the three aforementioned materials. A permeability of 5.4 × 10−7 mol/m2 s Pa and a CO2 selectivity of 47.55 were obtained with SAPO-34 supported on 500 mesh stainless steel. The pumice/SAPO-34 samples showed a permeability of 19.6 × 10−7 mol/m2 s and a selectivity of 52. Furthermore, this work demonstrated the potential of pumice stone supports for gas separation.