VOC separation using immobilized liquid membranes impregnated with oils

• Oil impregnated cellulose acetate membrane can be used for VOC separation.
• Nonpolar VOCs have better permeation and separation values through nonpolar oils.
• VOCs caused swelling of the porous cellulose acetate.
• Increasing feed pressure and low oil viscosity caused poor membrane VOC selectivity.

The separation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, carbontetrachloride and methanol from their binary mixtures with N2 was investigated using immobilized liquid membranes (ILMs). A flat sheet hydrophilic microporous cellulose acetate was used as a support material and vegetable and lubricant oils were used as membrane liquids. The separation performances of the membranes were studied at 25, 50, 75 and 100 kPa feed pressures above the atmospheric pressure. From the results obtained, it can be said that long term stabilities, high VOC separation performances and cheap and straightforward supply can make oils an alternative candidate to expensive ionic liquids for VOC separation/recovery-applications.

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