PERVAPORATION SEPARATION OF ALCOHOL-WATER MIXTURE THROUGH 4-VINYLPYRIDINE CHEMICAL MODIFIED POLY(4-METHYL-1-PENTENE) MEMBRANE

For dehydrating separation aqueous alcohol solution by the pervaporati on technique, a chemical modified poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (TPX) membr ane was synthesized with 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP). The morphology, cryst allinity, and thermodegradation properties were investigated by scanni ng electron microscopy, X-ray, and thermogravimetric analysis, respect ively. The modified TPX membrane possessed higher stability than that of the unmodified TPX membrane. The effects of feed temperature and po ly(4-VP) (P4-VP) content of the modified TPX membranes on the performa nces of pervaporation were studied. A separation factor of 133 and a p ermeation rate of 115 g/m(2)h can be obtained for the TPX/P4-VP membra ne with 3.0 wt % P4-VP content. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.