Efficient Pervaporation for Ethanol Dehydration: Ultrasonic Spraying Preparation of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Ti3C2Tx Nanosheet Mixed Matrix Membranes

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) pervaporation (PV) membranes have been extensively studied in the field of ethanol dehydration. The incorporation of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials into the PVA matrix can greatly improve the hydrophilicity of the PVA polymer matrix, thereby enhancing its PV performance. In this work, self-made MXene (Ti3C2Tx-based) nanosheets were dispersed in the PVA polymer matrix, and the composite membranes were fabricated by homemade ultrasonic spraying equipment with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) electrospun nanofibrous membrane as support. Due to the gentle coating of ultrasonic spraying and following continuous steps of drying and thermal crosslinking, a thin (~1.5 μm), homogenous and defect-free PVA-based separation layer was fabricated on the PTFE support. The prepared rolls of the PVA composite membranes were investigated systematically. The PV performance of the membrane was significantly improved by increasing the solubility and diffusion rate of the membranes to the water molecules through the hydrophilic channels constructed by the MXene nanosheets in the membrane matrix. The water flux and separation factor of the PVA/MXene mixed matrix membrane (MMM) were dramatically increased to 1.21 kg·m−2·h−1 and 1126.8, respectively. With high mechanical strength and structural stability, the prepared PGM-0 membrane suffered 300 h of the PV test without any performance degradation. Considering the promising results, it is likely that the membrane would improve the efficiency of the PV process and reduce energy consumption in the ethanol dehydration.

Thermal self-crosslink after etching for regulated preparation of Ti3C2 type MXene membrane and its preliminary gas separation

“…MXenes stand out for their high electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, mechanical flexibility, and thermal stability. These properties make MXene family highly suitable for a range of applications, from energy storage devices like batteries and supercapacitors to electromagnetic interference shielding, sensor technology, and even biomedical applications [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] ]. MXene is derived from a larger class of compounds known as MAX phases, which are ternary carbides or nitrides.…”

High-Performance FAU Zeolite Membranes Derived from Nano-Seeds for Gas Separation

“…Various membrane materials, such as polymer membranes [5,6], zeolite membranes [3,7,8], metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes [9,10], mixed matrix membranes [11,12], and silicon carbide membranes [13][14][15], have been explored for separation. Among them, zeolites have become promising candidates for high-performance membranes in separation processes, catalytic membranes, and sensors considering their well-defined pore sizes, molecular sieving performance, high thermal stability, and high mechanical strength [16].…”

High-Performance FAU Zeolite Membranes Derived from Nano-Seeds for Gas Separation

“…Various membrane materials, such as polymer membranes [5,6], zeolite membranes [3,7,8], metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes [9,10], mixed matrix membranes [11,12], and silicon Disclaimer/Publisher's Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions, or products referred to in the content.…”