Abstract Zeolite membranes have wide application prospects in petrochemical industry due to their unique adsorption properties, shape selectivity and excellent acid catalytic activity. In this review, the recent research progress in structure control and synthesis methods of zeolite membranes was introduced. It was pointed out that the future improvement should focus on reducing the cost of synthesis, and preparing new membrane materials with high permeability by new synthesis methods. The application of zeolite membranes and membrane reactors in separation of petrochemical raw materials and products, including CO2 or steam separation from natural gas, H2 purification, alcohol-water separation, and catalytic reactions, including esterification and transesterification, synthesis of ether, hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, dehydrogenation, synthesis of p-xylene, etc. were reviewed. Zeolite membranes with high permeability, high selectivity, chemical stability and hydrothermal stability have been applied in industrial-scale alcohol-water separation. In the future, the synthesis mechanism of zeolite membranes should be further studied, and R&D of industrial scale membrane module preparation technology should be accelerated, so as to promote efficient and sustainable development of petrochemical industry.
