Poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyelectrolyte complex blend membrane for pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was blended with soluble polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) made from poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCNa). Crystallinity, thermal transition, and thermal stability of the PVA/PEC blends were characterized by using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermal gravity analysis (TGA), respectively. Surface morphology, cross-section and phase structure of the blend membranes were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface hydrophilicity and swelling behavior of the blend membranes were examined by water contact angle (CA) and swelling tests. Blend membranes were subjected to isopropanol dehydration, and effects of blend composition, feed composition and feed temperature on pervaporation performance are discussed in terms of phase structures of blend membranes. A performance of J = 1.35 kg/m2 h, α = 1002, was obtained for blend membrane containing 50 wt% PEC in dehydrating 10 wt% water–isopropanol at 70 °C.