Polyelectrolyte membranes for aromatic-aliphatic hydrocarbon separation by pervaporation

Both membrane types show a clear enrichment of aromatic components (toluene or benzene) in the course of the PV process (from 20 wt.% in the feed to about 55 wt.% in the permeate). The fluxes are in the range of 1 kg/hm2 at a feed temperature of 80 °C. The separation of a benzene/cyclohexane mixture was also successful at 50 °C. In all cases, higher fluxes were obtained with benzene/cyclohexane feed mixtures than with toluene/heptane mixtures. Also, in multi-component feed mixtures, benzene exhibit the better permeate rates.