Dehydration of ethyl acetate-water mixtures using PVA/ceramic composite pervaporation membrane

Dehydration of ethyl acetate (EAC)-water mixtures by pervaporation (PV) was studied using a ceramic-supported polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite membrane. The effects of feed temperature, feed water content and feed flow rate on the PV performance of the membrane were systematically investigated. In addition, swelling experiments were performed to evaluate the sorption characteristic of the membrane. Flory-Huggins and NRTL (non-random two liquid) theories were applied to analyze the interactions of the membrane and penetrants and the mutual interaction between the penetrants. The membrane exhibited high PV performance, the water permeance and selectivity of water to EAC were 1.45 x 10(-5) kg m(-2) s(-1) kPa(-1) and 129, respectively, at 60 degrees C with the feed water content of 5.1 wt% and the feed flow rate of 252 mL min(-1). (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.