Abstract
In the present study, dual-layer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared by incorporating ZSM-5 zeolite into poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) as an active layer on the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane as a support layer for pervaporation separation of ethyl acetate (EAc) from EAc/water mixtures. The ZSM-5 zeolite nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal technique and characterized using XRD, XRF and FESEM analysis. The ATR-FTIR, SEM, DSC and contact angle tests were used to characterize the fabricated MMMs. The effect of ZSM-5 concentration on the performance of the membranes was investigated by the pervaporation experiments and the results showed that loading 10% wt% ZSM-5 into the PEBA matrix had the best separation performance. The effect of feed concentration (1–5 wt%) and operating temperature (30–50 °C) on the separation factor and permeation flux of the neat PEBA/PES and PEBA/PES membranes containing 10 wt% ZSM-5 were studied at laminar and turbulent feed flow regimes. Analysis of variance was used to investigate the interaction effect of EAc concentration and temperature on the performance of the prepared membranes. It was observed that both feed concentration and temperature had positive effects on the total permeation flux and separation factor. The ZSM-5/PEBA/PES membrane containing 10 wt% ZSM-5 showed a separation factor and total flux of 124.94 and 1882 g m−2 h−1 at laminar flow and 134.22 and 1985 g m−2 h−1 at turbulent flow, respectively for a feed concentration of 5 wt% and temperature of 50 °C.
Highlights
Pervaporation, as a membrane separation technology, is an efficient method for the separation of organic compounds from aqueous solutions in comparison to conventional processes like distillation due to energy-saving process, low production costs and high selectivity.[1]
We reported the performance of nano zeolite NaX/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyethersulfone (PES)[31] and carbon nanotubes/PVA/PES/ polyester[32] multilayer mixed matrix membranes for dehydration of ethanol/water mixture via the pervaporation process
Based on the results of the contact angle test, by loading ZSM-5 zeolite into the PEBA matrix, the contact angle of the prepared membranes was increased which resulted in more selective sorption of the ethyl acetate (EAc) molecules using the matrix membranes (MMMs)
Summary
Pervaporation, as a membrane separation technology, is an efficient method for the separation of organic compounds from aqueous solutions in comparison to conventional processes like distillation due to energy-saving process, low production costs and high selectivity.[1]. The effect of zeolite loading content in the ZSM-5 lled PEBA/PES dual-layer membranes on the pervaporation performance for a feed particles is observed in the cross-sectional SEM images of ZSM5/PEBA/PES MMM containing 12.5 and 17.5 wt% zeolite.
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