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Novel membranes made from a semi‐interpenetrating polymer network for ethanol–ETBE separation by pervaporation
Author(s) -
Nguyen QuangTrong,
Léger Christian,
Billard Philippe,
Lochon P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1581(199708)8:8<487::aid-pat656>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - pervaporation , materials science , membrane , methacrylate , polymer chemistry , interpenetrating polymer network , polymer , chemical engineering , monomer , cellulose , permeation , chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , engineering
The design of high‐performance pervaporation membranes for the selective removal of ethanol from ethyl t‐butyl ether (ETBE) was performed by using semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (s‐IPN) materials. The chosen linear polymer in the s‐IPN was a cellulose ester, and the network was formed by photopolymerization of a dimethacrylate, or a dimethacrylate and one or two co‐monomers. Membranes with good mechanical properties and moderate to good selectivity were obtained. Large permeability increases without loss in selectivity were observed with s‐IPN films formed by cellulose propionate or cellulose butyrate interpenetrated by a network of poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate). The use of dimethacrylate with longer spacers of the poly(ethoxy) type in these materials further increased the permeability. The permeation flux of cellulose acetate‐based membranes is improved only when a methacrylate with poly(ethoxy) side chains is incorporated in the network by copolymerization with the poly(ethoxy)‐type dimethacrylate. When the poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) in cellulose butyrate‐based s‐IPN films increases, the selectivity remains constant, while the film permeability goes through a maximum. The results are interpreted on the basis of a “plasticization” effect exerted on the linear polymer by interpenetrated networks composed of methacrylates with poly(ethoxy) chains. The resulting improved segment mobility favors the permeability at low network contents. The stability of s‐IPN membranes in hot liquid mixtures was explained by extended entanglements of the linear polymer with the branches of the network meshes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.