A study on the separation performance of zeolite filled thin film composite poly(dimethyl siloxane) membrane

In this study, ethanol/water was separated by means of pervaporation using a zeolite filled poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) non-porous membrane. Pristine and ZSM-5 type zeolite loaded membranes were prepared by means of solvent-free twin-screw compounding and subsequent compressing molding method. Effects of zeolite loading-level, feed temperature and concentration during separation were evaluated as experimental parameters. Hydrophobicity of the membranes was investigated by means of water contact angle. Mechanical properties were obtained through tensile tests. Morphologies of membranes were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Pervaporation performance was evaluated in terms of flux, separation factor, and pervaporation separation index. Optimum zeolite loading level was determined as 30%by weight in terms of pervaporation and mechanical performance. At optimum concentration, separation factor and flux were determined as 4.95 and 0246 kg/m2 h, respectively. It was demonstrated that flux drastically reduced from 0.246 to 0.03 kg/m(2) h above 30 wt.% ZSM-5. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.