The Isolation of Organic Compounds using Organophilic Pervaporation Membranes

Document Type : Review Paper

Authors

CSIRO

Abstract

Organophilic membranes provide a method of recovering organic compounds by pervaporation, which exploits the selective transport of the organic phase. The main application is in the extraction of bio-alcohols from aqueous solution. The effect of membrane composition on performance in transporting alcohols and not water at improved rates is the focus of this review. In this way the minor fraction, the bio-fuel, is removed rather than the usually large volume of water. A more economical process is then obtained. The most successful membranes are non-polar in character, and can be purely organic, inorganic or organic-inorganic polymer hybrids. For ethanol recovery, flux rates are best for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) when used as a very thin layer on a supporting base. Zeolites give the best separation factors along with reasonable fluxes, and supported silicalite performs well. For butanol recovery, flux rates are best for PDMS mixed matrix membranes. A styrene copolymer membrane gives a reasonable result for benzene/cyclohexane separation, while metal-organic frameworks have potential in the separation of organic isomers, where pore geometry becomes important.

Graphical Abstract

The Isolation of Organic Compounds using Organophilic Pervaporation Membranes

Highlights

• Organophilic membranes can selectively recover organic compounds by pervaporation
• Non-polar structures preferred, whether organic, inorganic, or a mixture of same
• For ethanol recovery, a thin supported layer of silicone rubber gives highest flux rates
• For butanol recovery, flux rates best for silicalite on alumina support
• Metal-organic frameworks have great potential in the separation of organic isomers

Keywords

Main Subjects

Journal of Membrane Science and Research
Volume 3, Issue 3
July 2017
Pages 248-260

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 September 2016
  • Revise Date: 23 January 2017
  • Accept Date: 03 March 2017

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