Inzynieria Chemiczna i Procesowa, Vol.25, No.2, 309-319, 2004
Performance of hydrophilic ceramic membranes for pervaporation
In this paper, the results of isopropanol dehydration on hydrophilic pervaporation ceramic membranes (PERVATECH BV) are presented. Ceramic membranes consist of several layers: silica dense layer deposited on four gamma-alumina layers with consecutively diminishing pore size. Membrane selectivity and permeate flux were determined as a function of feed concentration and temperature. Ceramic membranes under investigation showed very high efficiency and selectivity. Dewatering of isopropanol-water mixture (94 wt. % of isopropanol) at a temperature of 100 degreesC gave water flux J(w) = 9.3 kg/(m(.2)h) and the selectivity level of 500. Water fluxes measured during the experiments were plotted as a function of water vapour pressure over the feed and a linear correlation was obtained. Based on this correlation permeation coefficients independent of temperature were estimated for water (P-w = 1.687x10(-4) kg/(Pa(.)M(4.)h)) and isopropanol (P-i=3.441x10(-7) kg/(Pa(.)m(4.)h)). Our results were compared with literature data obtained for various hydrophilic ceramic and polymeric membranes.