Aroma compound recovery by hydrophobic pervaporation: The effect of membrane thickness and coupling phenomena

In this study, pervaporation experiments were performed with binary and ternary model solutions of pomegranate aroma compounds to investigate the effect of membrane thickness and coupling phenomena on the permeation flux and aroma enrichment factors. Various composite POMS and PDMS membranes were tested for pervaporation and compared for their separation performance. In order to evaluate the significance of mass transfer resistance in the boundary layer with respect to the mass transfer resistance in the membrane, experiments were carried out using membranes with different thickness. The results showed that the permeation flux through both membrane types decreased markedly with increasing the membrane thickness, while the aroma compound enrichment factors increased. Coupling effects was qualitatively evaluated by comparing the aroma partial flux from the binary and ternary feed solutions. It was observed that the permeation of some aroma compounds was affected by presence of other aroma compounds.

► Recovery of model pomegranate aroma compounds by pervaporation process was investigated.
► For thinner membranes, the boundary layer resistance was larger than the membrane resistance.
► Coupling effects existed between some aroma compounds.
► Coupling effects increased with an increase in the feed concentration.