Pervaporative recovery of tetrahydrofuran from water with plasticized and filled polyvinylchloride membranes

Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PPVC) membranes were prepared by incorporating 20, 25 and 30 wt% of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) plasticizer in the matrix of PVC. Filled PPVC membranes were prepared by incorporating 1, 2 and 3 wt% bentonite clay in the PPVC membrane containing 25 wt% of DOP. The membranes were characterized by FTIR, DTA-TG, XRD, SEM and mechanical properties. These membranes were used for sorption and pervaporation of 1–18 wt% tetrahydrofuran (THF) in water. The preferential sorption of the organophilic membranes were analyzed in terms of thermodynamic interaction parameters. The permeability and the diffusion coefficient of the solvents were determined.

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