SEPARATION OF PROPANE FROM PROPANE/NITROGEN MIXTURES USING PDMS COMPOSITE MEMBRANES BY VAPOR PERMEATION

This study deals with polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)/polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) composite membranes for propane separation from propane/nitrogen mixtures,which is relevant to the recovery of propane in petroleum and chemical industry.The surface and cross-section morphology of PDMS/PVDF composite membranes was observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM).The surface morphology of PDMS/PVDF composite membranes is very dense.There are three layers,the thin dense top layer,finger-like porous middle layer and s...

Separation Performance of Sodium Alginate/Poly(Vinyl Pyrrolidone)Membranes for Aqueous/Dimethylformamide Mixtures by Vapor Permeation and Vapor Permeation with Temperature Difference Methods

In this study sodium alginate (NaAlg)/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) blend membranes were prepared and crosslinked with CaCl2 (0.1 Molarity (M)) for the separation of aqueous/dimethylformamide (DMF) mixtures. Membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their performance was examined by varying experimental parameters such as feed composition (0 - 100 wt%), operating temperature (30℃ - 50℃) and membrane thickness (30 - 90 micrometer (μm)). Blending NaAlg with PVP, decreased separation factor whereas increased the permeation rate as the permeation temperature was increased in Vapor Permeation (VP) and Vapor Permeation with Temperature Difference (TDVP) methods. In the TDVP method, the separation factors increased and the permeation rates decreased as the temperature of the membrane surrounding is decreased. The highest separation factor of 60 was obtained in TDVP method for 90 wt% DMF concentration in the feed.

A Predictive Instrument for Sensitive and Expedited Measurement of Ultra-Barrier Permeation

The reliable operation of flexible display devices poses a significant engineering challenge regarding the metrology of high barriers against water vapor.No reliable results have been reported in the range of 10–6 g∙(m^(2)∙d)1,and there is no standard ultra-barrier for calibration.To detect trace amount of water vapor permeation through an ultra-barrier with extremely high sensitivity and a greatly reduced test period,a predictive instrument was developed by integrating permeation models into high-sensitivity mass spectrometry measurement based on dynamic accumulation,detection,and evacuation of the permeant.Detection reliability was ensured by means of calibration using a standard polymer sample.After calibration,the lower detection limit for water vapor permeation is in the range of 10–7 g∙(m^(2)∙d)1,which satisfies the ultra-barrier requirement.Predictive permeation models were developed and evaluated using experimental data so that the steady-state permeation rate can be forecasted from non-steady-state results,thus enabling effective measurement of ultra-barrier permeation within a significantly shorter test period.