Polyarylethersulfone with cardo/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) blend membrane for pervaporation of methanol/methyl tert-butyl ether mixtures

• PES-C/PVP blend membranes show high mechanical strength.
• Microstructure of the dried and swollen membranes was characterized by PALS.
• Performance for pervaporation of MeOH/MTBE was governed by diffusion.
• The membrane containing 16 wt% PVP showed the highest separation factor of 889.
• Hydrophilicity and flux of the membrane increased with increasing PVP content.

Polyarylethersulfone with cardo (PES-C) and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) blend membranes with various PVP contents were prepared for pervaporation separation of methanol (MeOH)/methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) mixtures. The membranes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle metering and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The influence of PVP content on the swelling behavior and mechanical properties was studied. The effect of PVP content on the pervaporation performance was investigated and discussed in terms of the solution-diffusion mechanism. With incorporation of PVP, the permeation flux increased and the separation factor increased as well in the PVP content range of 0–16 wt%. Of all the as-fabricated blend membranes, the one containing 84 wt% PES-C and 16 wt% PVP showed the highest separation factor of 889 and a permeation flux of 3.44 kg μm m−2 h−1 for a 15 wt% MeOH feed mixture at 40 °C.