High flux composite PTMSP-silica nanohybrid membranes for the pervaporation of ethanol/water mixtures

Summary, in English

Silica-filled poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) layers were successfully applied for the first time on top of ultrafiltration support membranes and applied in the pervaporative separation of ethanol/water mixtures. Reduction of the thickness of the separating PTMSP top layer and addition of hydrophobic silica particles resulted in a clear flux increase as compared to dense PTMSP membranes. With ethanol/water separation factors up to 12 and fluxes up to 3.5 kg m(-2) h(-1), the prepared supported PTMSP-silica nanohybrid membranes performed significantly better than the best commercially available organophilic pervaporation membranes. Characterization of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support membrane revealed a more open, irregular and hydrophobic surface structure for the former membrane, thus explaining the higher fluxes of the PTMSP/PVDF composite membrane. Because of their promising flux-selectivity combination, the prepared membranes exhibit great potential in the removal of alcohols from aqueous mixtures. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

• Author: S. Claes; P. Vandezande; S. Mullens; R. Leysen; K. De Sitter; Anna Andersson; Frans Maurer; H. Van den Rul; R. Peeters; M. K. Van Bael
• Department/s: Centre for Analysis and Synthesis
• Publishing year: 2010
• Language: English
• Pages: 160-167
• Publication/Series: Journal of Membrane Science
• Volume: 351
• Issue: 1-2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2010.01.043
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Chemical Sciences
• Keywords: Silica-filled nanohybrid membranes; Water/ethanol separation; High flux composite membranes; PTMSP; Organophilic pervaporation
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0376-7388