The pervaporation performance and mass transfer process of PDMS membranes for acetic acid/water mixture

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes with different silica content were prepared without support. The characterization and performance of the membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), contact angle meter and swelling experiment. The pervaporation process was investigated with acetic acid/water mixture. And the process of mass transfer was analysed depending on the solution-diffusion model. The addition of silica could greatly improve the pervaporation flux and enhance the thermal stability of membrane. With an increase in feed temperature, selectivity decreased and permeation flux increased for the unfilled PDMS membrane. However, the separation factor of silica loading of 10 wt. % membranes, exhibited a maximum at 50 °C, and it was higher than unfilled membrane when feed temperature was above 40 °C. With the enhancement of acetic acid concentration, flux and separation factor increased. And the unfilled membrane and the silica filled membrane were prior permeation membranes for water when the downstream pressure of unfilled membrane and silica filled membrane was over 1000 Pa and 1500 Pa respectively.