The use of membranes in order to lower the methanol content in a 1% methanol in pentane solution and in a mixture of 9% tertiary amyl methyl ether or methyl tertiary butyl ether, 12% methanol, 16% 2-methy1-2-butene and 62% pentane has been studied. Different commercial films were tested (Glad Wrap® , Saran Wrap®, Handi-Wrap® , Stretch'n Seal® , and No Name® brand) as well as inhouse fabricated cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate membranes. All the commercial films give a permeate depleted in methanol as opposed to the in-house ones which enrich the permeate in methanol. This work has identified the most promising membranes, however, a study using continuous flow type cells would show the real capacity of these membranes.

Studies have been made on the use of membranes in order to lower the concentration of methanol in a 1% methanol in pentane solution. Two membranes were studied. One was fabricated from polyvinyl chloride and the other from cellulose acetate-butyrate. Results show that each membrane behaves differently. The cellulose acetate-butyrate membrane enriched the permeate in methanol content and the polyvinylchloride membrane depleted it. Calculations were made for a multistage process using these two membranes: it appears that the separations obtained in this preliminary work need to be improved for economic viability. A brief study on cellulose acetate and cellulose triacetate membranes was also conducted.