Author/Authors :
Nawawi, M. G. Mohd Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Centre of Lipid Engineering and Applied Research - Department of Chemical Engineering, Malaysia , Zamrud, Zafifah Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Centre of Lipid Engineering and Applied Research - Department of Chemical Engineering, Malaysia , Idham, Z. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - Centre of Lipid Engineering and Applied Research, Malaysia , Hassan, O. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - Faculty of Chemical Engineering - Department of Chemical Engineering, Malaysia , Sakri, N. Mohd Universiti Teknologi Malaysia - Faculty of Chemical Engineering - Department of Chemical Engineering, Malaysia
Abstract :
Blend chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite membranes were developed by mixing PVA and chitosan solutions at appropriate ratios. Pervaporation separation of the membrane was tested for methanol and MTBE mixture at different feed concentrations and temperature. The pervaporation performances were studied and evaluated and compared to the composite chitosan membrane. Flux increased with the increasing concentration of methanol in the feed. Separation factor was highest for the 20 wt% chitosan-containing blend membrane. The blend membrane containing 20-40 wt% of chitosan at feed temperature of 50°C exhibited permeation flux in between 52.28 g/m².hr to 66.92 g/m².hr with the separation factor of 53.22 to 81.00.
Keywords :
Chitosan , polyvinyl alcohol , membrane , pervaporation , methyl , tert butyl ether , methanol
