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Chitosan-based membranes filled with different metal oxide particles were prepared and their performance in ethanol dehydration process depending on the type of oxide and loading was discussed. For membrane preparation three oxides: TiO2, Cr2O3or Fe3O4were selected. From experimental data suitable ethanol and water transport coefficients were evaluated. As shown in the results, applied fillers in different ways affect the separation properties. Presence of TiO2significantly affects the normalized total flux, increasing its value. On the other hand, addition of Fe3O4influences most of all the separation factor, which is the among all investigated membranes. For membranes containing chromium(III) oxide as a filler, improvement in the separation properties is observed only in the case when the Cr2O3content equals to 5 wt%. Above this concentration significant deterioration of separation properties is observed. The best performance has mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with magnetite, where the values of PSI are equal to 16.3 and 296.8 kg/m−2h µm for pristine and 15 wt% filler content, respectively.

This paper presents a study of novel hybrid membranes consisting of sodium alginate as a polymer matrix and magnetite and two cross-linking agents, that is, orthophosphoric acid and Ca+2ions. Ethanol/water separation parameters were determined using the vapour permeation process. The permeate parameters were estimated on the basis of weight loss of the measuring cell over time using an analytical balance. The results have shown the influence of magnetite particles content in the alginate matrix and the effect of cross-linking agents on ethanol/water separation properties. Comparing permeation coefficients of both types of discussed membranes more advantageous separation properties for the membranes cross-linked with orthophosphoric acid were observed. The best ideal selectivity (55.54) was recorded for membranes with iron oxide content between 5 and 10 w/w%. For Ca+2ions cross-linked membranes, the highest ideal selectivity coefficient can be obtained at 15–20 w/w% magnetite content (32.18).