Search

In this study, membranes from chitosan with different molecular weights (175-230 kDa) and degree of deacetylation (92%-98%) were prepared and dehydration of a ethanol-water azeotropic mixture by pervaporation on membranes in the swollen and dry initial state was investigated. The influence of chitosan characteristics and the effect of the initial membrane state on separation properties are discussed. The structure of the obtained membranes changed during the drying process and affected the membrane transport parameters and time to membrane stabilisation. The impact of chitosan characteristics on the transport parameters depended on the initial membrane state. The chitosan molecular weight influenced ethanol transport, whereas the chitosan degree of deacetylation affected water transport. In addition, chitosan with the lowest molecular weight improved the separation properties of the membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alginate membranes filled with different metal oxide particles were prepared and the influence of the presence of different amounts of Fe3O4, ZnO, and Ag2O particles on ethanol and water permeation was discussed. Ethanol and water vapour permeation rates were determined using the measuring cell method, and the mass transport coefficients were evaluated. It was found that the highest transport parameters were obtained for membranes with the highest metal oxide content. Furthermore, the highest flux, equal 8.49 kg·m−2·h−1, was obtained for the alginate membrane filled with 15 wt% of silver oxide particles, while the greatest selectivity coefficients were noted for membranes containing magnetite. In this case, for the alginate membrane with 15 wt% of magnetite content, the selectivity coefficient reached the best value of 108.15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pervaporative separation properties of crosslinked chitosan and alginate membrane on ethanol-water mixture at room temperature was studied. The influence of crosslinking agents on the separation properties were discussed. Selected crosslinking agents were affected differently on used polymer matrices. The better separation properties were obtained for membranes crosslinked by phosphoric (V) acid. The highest pervaporation separation index (309.6 kg/m2·h) and separation factor (52.6) were obtained for phosphoric (V) acid crosslinked alginate membranes, however, the greatest total flux (12.4 kg/m2·h) obtained for phosphoric acid crosslinked chitosan membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vapour permeation of water and ethanol through homogenous chitosan and alginate membranes was investigated. The influence of the polymer matrix and crosslinking agents, and measurement protocol on the transport properties were discussed. The conducted experiments showed the greater separation factor, better stability and resistant to solvents for chemically crosslinked membranes. On the other hand, stronger association of the matrix, than the physical, caused decrease of vapour fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]