Separation of an azeotropic mixture through the use of organic solvent nanofiltration

Abstract

Experimental data, along with theoretical modelling, are combined to explore the potential for the separation of an azeotropic polar/non-polar solvent mixture through an OSN membrane. A mixture of toluene/butanol was used for the model development, and then applied to toluene/ethanol, and toluene/heptane mixtures. Experimental data was obtained at various testing conditions to validate simulation results from a non-ideal solution diffusion transport model incorporating the Flory–Huggins ternary equations. Accounting for the effects of non-ideality in the feed and permeate solutions generated a better fit to the experimental data. The system of equations was solved using parameters obtained from mono component membrane data only. The model developed can be used as a pre screening check for the separation of a potential solvent mixture that an OSN membrane can offer prior to embarking upon an extensive experimental program.