The Separation Characteristics of an Isopropyl Alcohol/water Azeotrope Using Evapomeation and Temperature-difference Controlling Evapomeation Methods with PVA/NaY Membranes

Abstract

This study investigated the permeation and separation characteristics during the evapomeation and temperature-difference controlling evapomeation (TDEV) of an isopropyl alcohol/water (IPA/water) azeotrope through poly(vinyl alcohol)/NaY (PVA/NaY) membranes. The effects of the operational temperature and the feed concentration on the membrane separation factor and flux values were investigated for evapomeation and TDEV. The permeation and diffusion activation energies for an IPA/water mixture through a PVA/NaY membrane were calculated to be 23.69 and 41.61 kJ/mol, respectively. The results for the PVA and PVA/NaY membranes were supported by swelling behaviors. The best separation factor obtained was 2097.38 using the evapomeation method and 2483.75 using the TDEV method.