Effect of Process Factors on Pervaporation Dehydration of Isopropanol

Abstract

The paper aimed at studying the performances of pervaporation separation of isopropanol-water system using a Pervatech ceramic membrane at various values of feed mixture flow rate (F=1000 kg/hr), feed water mass fraction (xF=0.1-0.2), operation temperature (t=60-90 �C), permeate pressure (pP=1000-9000 Pa) and water separation degree (sW=0.9, 0.95). Membrane total flux and separation factor were predicted applying a second order response surface model with 3 factors, i.e., xF, t and pP. An algorithm for estimating the membrane surface area was presented. Membrane area increased with sW and xF and its lowest values (A=13 m2 for xF=0.1 and A=24 m2 for xF=0.2) were attained for t=60 �C and pP=9000 Pa. These findings could be applied for optimizing the process of isopropanol dehydration by pervaporation.

Modelling of Ethanol Fermentation Coupled with Product Recovery by Pervaporation

“…However, it is challenging to develop a mass transfer model for pervaporation applicable for all types of membrane materials and separated mixtures. The swelling behaviour of polymeric membranes and the multi-feature diffusion mechanisms through inorganic membranes prohibit the development of a universal mass transfer model for pervaporation [31,32].…”