DEHYDRATION OF WATER-PYRIDINE MIXTURE THROUGH POLY(ACRYLONITRILE-CO-ACRYLIC ACID) MEMBRANE BY PERVAPORATION

An aqueous pyridine solution was dehydrated by using modified polyacry lonitrile membranes to form in situ complexes with the solute in the f eed solution, The pervaporation separation of a water-pyridine mixture using poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) membranes exhibited a separ ation factor ranging from 13.4 to 2207 and a flux of 45-610 g/m(2) h d epending on the operating temperature and the concentration of the fee d mixture. The permeation mechanism through the membrane is explained on the basis of the molecular interaction between the permeants and th e membrane.