Gold nanoparticles supported titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) membranes have been synthesized by the hydrothermal method over tubular porous alpha-alumina material. Thickness of the calcined TS-1/Au membrane is found to be approximately 25-30 mu m and it exhibited helium permeability in the order of 10(-8). The membranes with different amounts of titanium and gold contents are characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, UV-vis, ICP, and gas permeation. The TS-1/Au membranes show promising catalytic activity in the epoxidation of propylene into propylene epoxide using a mixture of H-2 and O-2 as an oxidant under vapor phase reaction conditions. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.