SORPTION AND PERMEATION OF AQUEOUS PICOLINES IN ELASTOMERIC MEMBRANES

Separation of beta- and gamma-picolines from water using elastomeric m embranes has been studied. PDMS and EPDM membranes were found to affor d separation with good selectivity and flux over the entire concentrat ion range. Natural rubber and nitrile-butadiene rubber membranes cause d only a shift in the binary distillation azeotropic composition. Data from sorption and permeation studies were used to calculate the heat of sorption and activation energy for diffusion as a function of the p icoline concentration. The activation energy for diffusion was found t o decrease with increasing picoline concentration in agreement with th e theory of plasticization.