Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Disodium Tetraborate Cross-Linked Polyvinyl Alcohol Membranes for Pervaporation Dehydration of Ethylene Glycol

Authors

  • Kaushik Nath
  • Haresh K Dave

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17344/acsi.2018.4581

Keywords:

Pervaporation, membrane, swelling, flux, selectivity, separation factor, diffusion coefficient,

Abstract

Dehydration of ethylene glycol-water mixture was carried out in a laboratory pervaporation unit using a flat sheet membrane test cell. Polyvinyl alcohol-polyether sulfone (PVA-PES) composite membranes were synthesized and cross linked with two different concentrations, viz 0.2 and 0.5% of disodium tetraborate (borax). The derived membranes were extensively characterized for their morphology, intermolecular interactions, thermo-mechanical stability, and physicochemical properties using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and water uptake studies. The membrane performance was evaluated in terms of pervaporation flux, separation factor, selectivity, permeability and solute diffusion coefficients of EG-water mixture at varying feed flow rate.  Both in terms of flux and separation factor PVA-PES-0.2% borax composite membrane was found superior to PVA-PES-0.5% borax crosslinked and its uncrosslinked counterpart.  Cross-linking the composite with borax produced a membrane with lower crystallinity and a smaller swelling degree, but having improved thermostability and mechanical properties. 

Author Biographies

Kaushik Nath, G H Patel College of Engineering & Technology (Gujarat Technological University)

Professor

Department of Chemical Engineering

 G H Patel College of Engineering & Technology

Haresh K Dave, Department of Chemical Engineering G H Patel College of Engineering & Technology Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India

Assistant Professor 

Department of Chemical Engineering
G H Patel College of Engineering & Technology
Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India

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Published

14.12.2018

Issue

Section

Chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering