Molecularly imprinted cellulose membranes for pervaporation separation of xylene isomers

• Molecular imprinting was applied to preparation of pervaporation membrane.
• 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene imprinted cellulose membranes preferentially sorbed o-xylene.
• Cellulose membranes imprinted by 1,2-dihydroxybenzene selectively transported o-xylene.

Molecularly imprinted polymeric membranes (MIPMs) were prepared from cellulose and 1,2- dihydroxybenzene as a print molecule with imprinting ratio of 0.5 and 1.0. Those membranes were applied to the separation of xylene isomers by pervaporation. The molecularly imprinted membranes selectively incorporated o-xylene from o-/m- and o-/p- mixtures at a low o-xylene concentration region, the adsorption selectivity toward o-xylene was determined to be 7.15 and 4.24, respectively, implying that 1,2-dihydroxybenzene worked well as the print molecule for o-xylene recognition; the pervaporation was carried out at 40 °C and at the downstream pressure of 0.5 kPa and showed permselectivity toward o-xylene at low o-xylene concentrations while toward m- and p-xylene at high o-xylene concentrations. The molecularly imprinted membranes gave higher flux than the control non-imprinted membrane. The results obtained in the present study revealed that molecular imprinting is one of promising methods to prepare separation membranes for pervaporation.

Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (79 K)Download as PowerPoint slide