The membranes (Nafion and LDPE) in binary liquid mixtures benzene plus methanol - sorption and swelling

Sorption studies provide valuable information about the interactions of the components of the liquid mixture with the polymer. In the present paper, the behaviour of Nafion and low-density polyethylene membranes in binary mixtures benzene + methanol was examined with respect to their application in separation processes. The individual sorption isotherms, the separation factors, and the composition of the swollen membranes were derived from the experimental data. The results confirm that Nafion as a polar material sorbs the more polar component of the mixture (methanol) preferentially to the less polar component (benzene) whereas non-polar polyethylene prefers non-polar benzene in the whole concentration range. Volume measurements of the swollen membranes indicate that the ideal sorption behaviour cannot be considered for the selected systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.