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Separation of Ethylene Glycol/Water Mixtures using NaA Zeolite Membranes
Author(s) -
Nik O. G.,
Moheb A.,
Mohammadi T.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.200500276
Subject(s) - pervaporation , membrane , dehydration , ethylene glycol , permeation , zeolite , chemistry , chromatography , chemical engineering , membrane technology , organic chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering
Inorganic membranes and particularly zeolite membranes are usually used for the dehydration of organic solvents by pervaporation (PV). This work reports an experimental study on the PV dehydration of ethylene glycol (EG)/water mixtures using commercial nanoporous NaA zeolite membranes. The concentration range investigated ( C EG > 70 wt %) was selected according to existing industrial requirements. The recirculation flow rate was kept at a value of 1.5 L/min. The fluxes and separation factors were monitored as the dehydration proceeded. In addition, the activation energy of permeation ( E a ) was calculated. The effect of temperature was investigated in the range 50–70 °C. The results obtained demonstrated the successful performance of the membrane for the dehydration of EG/water mixtures. It was observed that at 70 °C and with 70 wt % initial EG concentration, larger fluxes and separation factors could be obtained, i.e., 0.94 kg m –2 h –1 and 1177, respectively. The Pervaporation Separation Index (PSI) of the membrane was found to be high compared to that of polymeric membranes.