ZEOLITE-FILLED SILICONE-RUBBER MEMBRANES EXPERIMENTAL-DETERMINATION OF CONCENTRATION PROFILES

Permeant concentrations in silicalite-filled silicone rubber membranes during pervaporation of propanol/water mixtures were measured using m ulti-layered membranes. Experimentally determined concentration profil es show that the propanol concentration in the silicalite-filled membr ane increases with increasing silicalite content. The water concentrat ion in the membrane is low and no water is present in the silicalite p articles during pervaporation. The concentration profiles measured her e support the observations from the resistance model that the diffusio n through the membrane determines the transport rate, i.e., adsorption is a fast process.