Enhancing the separation performance by introducing bioadhesive bonding layer in composite pervaporation membranes for ethanol dehydration

A high performance composite membrane was prepared under the inspiration of bioadhesion principles for pervaporative dehydration of ethanol. Chitosan (CS) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) ultrafiltration membranes were used as the active layer and the support layer, respectively. Guar gum (GG), a natural bioadhesive, was introduced as the intermediate bonding layer to improve the separation performance and stability of the fabricated CS/GG/PAN composite membranes. The contact angle of the GG layer was just between those of the CS layer and the PAN layer, minimizing the difference of hydrophilicity between the active layer and the support layer. The peeling strength of the composite membrane was significantly enhanced after the introduction of the GG layer. The effects of preparation conditions and operation conditions including GG concentration, operating temperature and ethanol concentration in feed on the pervaporation performance were investigated. The as-fabricated CS/GG/PAN composite membrane showed the optimum performance with a permeation flux of up to 804 g·m− 2·h− 1 and a separation factor higher than 1900. Besides, the composite membranes exhibited a desirable long-term operational stability.

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