Methanol selective membranes for separation of methanol-ethylene glycol mixtures by pervaporation

Several copolymers of acrylonitrile were synthesized. Methanol selective me mbranes were prepared from these copolymers of acrylonitrile. The other mon omers in the copolymers were selected on the basis of their solubility para meter values relative to those of methanol. These were hydroxy ethyl methac rylate, methacrylic acid and vinyl pyrrolidone. Thus, pervaporative separat ion of methanol from its mixture with ethylene glycol over the entire conce ntration range 0-100% methanol was studied using these copolymer membranes of acrylonitrile. For each copolymer of acrylonitrile three different membr anes with different copolymer compositions were prepared. Copolymers of acr ylonitrile with hydroxy ethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid showed good selectivity and moderate flux for methanol (14.74, 11.3 and 0.108 kg/m(2) h, 0.0813 kg/m(2) h, respectively, with membrane of 50 mu m thickness for f eed mixture containing 50% methanol). Copolymer of acrylonitrile with vinyl pyrrolidone showed comparable flux but methanol selectivity of this membra ne was poor. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.