Selective removal of acetone and butan-1-ol from water with supported ionic liquid-polydimethylsiloxane membrane by pervaporation

The use of ionic liquid-polymer in supported ultrafiltration membrane in vacuum pervaporation has been verified. The ultrafiltration membranes were impregnated by two ionic liquids (1-ethenyl-3-ethyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate and tetrapropylammonium tetracyano-borate) and polydimethylsiloxane. These new and very stable supported ionic liquid-polymer membranes were used for separation of tertiary mixtures butan-1-ol-acetone-water by vacuum pervaporation. In comparison with polydimethylsiloxane membranes, the average enrichment factor of butan-1-ol increased in both cases. This higher selectivity shows a good potential for improving pervaporation separation process. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.