Abstract

The ZSM-5/poly (ether-block-amide) (PEBA)/polyethersulfone (PES) dual layer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared for pervaporation (PV) separation of ethyl acetate (EAc) from aqueous solutions. The ZSM-5 zeolite nanoparticles were synthesized by the conventional hydrothermal method and characterized using the XRD, XRF and FESEM analysis. The effect of top layer thickness, PEBA concentration, zeolite loading concentration, feed concentration and temperature on the separation performance of the prepared membranes was investigated. The FTIR, SEM, contact angle and swelling tests were used to characterize the fabricated MMMs. The results indicated that loading ZSM-5 zeolite nanoparticles into the PEBA matrix had a significant influence on the separation performance of the prepared membranes. The ZSM-5/PEBA/PES membrane containing 7.5 wt% ZSM-5 with a top layer thickness of 20 μm, showed the highest separation factor. The total flux was decreased by loading ZSM-5 into the membranes up to 7.5 wt% and further enhancement in the zeolite loading content resulted in increasing the total permeation flux. The best separation factor and total flux of the ZSM-5/PEBA/PES-07.5 membrane were found to be 108.52 and 1895 g m−2h−1, respectively for a feed concentration of 5 wt% EAc and temperature of 50 °C.

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