Sodium alginate-polyvinyl alcohol/polysulfone (SA-PVA/PSF) hollow fiber composite pervaporation membrane for dehydration of ethanol-water solution.

Using polysulfone (PSF) hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes as the substrate, sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend solutions as the coating solution, and maleic anhydride (MAC) as the cross-linked agent, SAPVA/PSF hollow fiber composite membranes were prepared for the dehydration of ethanol-water. The effects of different sodium alginate concentration in the coating solutions and different operating temperatures on pervaporation performance were investigated. The experimental results showed that pervaporation performance of the SA-PVA/PSF composite membranes for ethanol-water solution exhibited a high separation factor although they had a relatively low permeation flux. As SA concentration in SA-PVA coating solution was 66.7% and the operating temperature was 40 °C, SA-PVA/PSF hollow fiber composite membrane (PS4) had a separation factor of 886 and flux of 12.6 g/(m²·h). Besides, SA-PVA/PSF hollow fiber composite membranes (PS3 and PS4) were used for the investigation of the effect of ethanol concentration in the feed solution on pervaporation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]