Comprehensive analysis on anomalous phenomenon of ethanol-soluble poly(vinyl butyral) membrane for ethanol recovery via pervaporation

Poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) is selected as a promising ethanol-permselective membrane based on the solubility parameter theory; however, it exhibits anomalous water perm-selectivity in practical pervaporation (PV) process. Comprehensive analysis based on experimental and theoretical methods were carried out to explore the inherent mechanism of the anomalous performance. Firstly, sum frequency generation vibrational spectra and contact angle were developed to quantify the surface reconstruction of membrane in air and ethanol, which indicated that hydrophilic hydroxyl tended to expose on membrane surface with ethanol thus improving the membrane affinity to water. Meanwhile, swelling behaviors proved more water would accumulate in the ethanol swollen membrane. Furthermore, theoretical analysis in terms of sorption and diffusion process, based on the UNIFAC-FV model and Fujita free-volume theory, confirmed the mechanism of anomalous phenomenon of PVB membrane. The comprehensive investigation was expected to provide insights into the basic separation mechanism of PV process.