Cross-linked smart poly(dimethylsiloxane) membranes for removal of volatile organic compounds in water

This paper focuses on the effects of fluorine cross-linker of the cross-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) membranes from polydimethylsiloxane dimethylmethacrylate macromonomer (PDMSDMMA) and divinyl perfluoro-n-hexane (DVF) on the pervaporation characteristics of the removal of benzene from an aqueous solution of dilute benzene. When an aqueous solution of 0.05 wt% benzene was permeated through the cross-linked PDMSDMMA (PDMSDMMA-DVF) membranes, they showed a high benzene permselectivity and permeability of these membranes was enhanced with increasing DVF content significantly. The best normalized permeation rate, separation factor for benzene permselectivity, and pervaporation separation index (PSI) of a PDMSDMMA-DVF membrane were 1.72×10−5 kg m/m2 h, 4316, and 7423, respectively. The best normalized permeation rate of a PDMSDMMA-DVF membrane was approximately same as the PDMSDMMA membranes cross-linked with other divinyl compounds, but the separation factor and PSI of the former membrane were greater than those of the latter ones. These pervaporation characteristics are discussed from the viewpoint of chemical and physical structure of the cross-linked PDMSDMMA-DVF membranes in detail.