A novel gradient porous ZSM-5 membrane/PSSF composite was prepared by the wet lay-up papermaking process and secondary growth process. Firstly, the paper-like sintered stainless steel fibers (PSSFs) support was prepared by the wet lay-up papermaking process and sintering process, then a ZSM-5 membrane was fabricated on this PSSF support by secondary growth process. The morphology and structure of ZSM-5 membrane/PSSF composite were characterized by SEM. XRD and ASAP 2020, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the junctures of stainless steel fibers were completely sintered together to form a three-dimensional network structure and ZSM-5 membrane was fabricated on the PSSF support. The specific surface area of composite was 145.1 m(2)/g, which was calculated with the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) method, and the total pore volume was 0.1547 cm(3)/g. The adsorption breakthrough curve of toluene in the structured fixed bed filled with both granular activated carbons (GACs) of 2.4 cm in the inlet of bed and NaZSM-5/PSSF composites of 0.6 cm in the outlet of bed was also investigated, comparing with that in individual GAC fixed bed with bed height of 3 cm. The length of unused bed was calculated according to the breakthrough curve data. The experimental results showed that the length of unused bed in structured fixed bed was obviously decreased. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.