Effect of Process Factors on Pervaporation Dehydration of Isopropanol

摘要

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 (x(F)=0.1-0.2), operation temperature (t=60-90 degrees C), permeate pressure (p(p)=1000-9000 Pa) and water separation degree (s(w)=0.9, 0.95). Membrane total flux and separation factor were predicted applying a second order response surface model with 3 factors, i.e., x(F),t and p(p) An algorithm for estimating the membrane surface area was presented. Membrane area increased with s(w) and x(F), and its lowest values (A=13 m(2) for x(F)=0.1 and A=24 m(2) for x(F)=0.2) were attained for t=60 degrees C and p(p)=9000 Pa. These findings could be applied for optimizing the process of isopropanol dehydration by pervaporation.