Pervaporative separation of toluene from wastewaters by use of filled and unfilled poly(dimethylosiloxane) (PDMS) membranes

This study focused on the removal of toluene from the wastewaters of the chemical industry. The tests were carried out on a polydimethylosiloxane (PDMS) membrane filled with carbon black (PDMS + cb) and another without the filling (PDMS). It was confirmed, that the addition of the hydrophobic filling to the structure of PDMS membrane changed its properties. The removal of toluene was comparable for both membranes and was amounted at 90% and 93% for PDMS + cb and PDMS, respectively. However, the selectivity was much better for PDMS + cb membrane.