Hollow Filler Based Mixed Matrix Membranes for Separation of Ethanol-Water Mixture By Pervaporation

摘要

The concept of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) was developed in the field of membrane technology to overcome the limitations of polymeric and inorganic membranes. Polymeric membranes possesses limitations due to a general trade-off between flux and selectivity, often referred to as Robeson upper boundary. Although, inorganic membranes overcome this boundary, they are less used in applications due to the high costs for materials, defect-free preparation and up scaling. Mixed matrix membranes have the potential to combine high selectivities with high membrane fluxes. Zeolites are one of the most attractive inorganic fillers used in MMMs, as their defined pore structure increases the selectivity. The porous zeolite fillers reduced swelling of PDMS in the solvents like hexane, toluene without lowering the intrinsic fluxes. Zeolite-filled PDMS membranes have been developed for pervaporation which showed superior membrane performance.