EFFECT OF OPERATING CONDITIONS ON THE DEHYDRATION OF TOLUENE BY PERVAPORATION USING A POLYVINYL ALCOHOL MEMBRANE

Abstract

The effects of operating parameters such as feed temperature and permeate-side pressure on the performance of a commercial PVA membrane in the dehydration of toluene by a pervaporation (PV) membrane system is studied in the present work. The results obtained indicate that increasing temperature in the range of 40 to 70 °C and reducing permeate pressure in the range of 1 to 10 mmHg increase membrane flux and selectivity, which consequently leads to the considerable modification of membrane performance in the reduction of water content of the feed.

Keywords

• pervaporation
• membrane
• toluene
• dehydration
• polyvinyl alcohol
• processing parameters