Pervaporation of methanol solution using PTFE/PP membrane

Abstract

Pervaporation was examined as a possible technique for methanol-water separation using PTFE/PP membrane. The laboratory experiments were carried out using a feed concentration range of 10 to 60 wt % methanol, downstream pressure of 12 to 34 cmHg, feed temperature of 30 to 50 ℃, and feed flow rate of 3.5 to 17 ml min⁻¹. The concentration of methanol in the solution was determine by gas chromatography. Results showed that total flux increased, while selection factor decreased with increasing the feed concentration. In the other hand, when the downstream pressure increased, total flux decreases, while selection factor increases. The total flux was only slightly changed, while selection factor decreased with increasing the feed temperature. The similar trend was found for the effect of feed flow rate. In this study, the maximum selection factor of 4.08 and total flux of 1.97 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ were obtained at the concentration of methanol in feed of 10 wt %, downstream pressure of 34 cmHg, feed temperature of 30 ℃, and feed flow rate of 3.5 ml min⁻¹.