Separation of ethyl acetate from Water via Pervaporation Using a novel Silicone-based Membrane

Sadeghi Fateh, Donya; Poorkhalil, Ali; Farrokhzad, Hasan

doi:10.22034/ijche.2025.512294.1510

Separation of ethyl acetate from Water via Pervaporation Using a novel Silicone-based Membrane

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Donya Sadeghi Fateh ¹

Ali Poorkhalil ¹

Hasan Farrokhzad ²

¹ Faculty of Life Science Engineering, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, PO Box 14395-1561, Tehran, Iran

² School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology

10.22034/ijche.2025.512294.1510

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, commercially known as ELASTOSIL® RT 601 A/B, for separating ethyl acetate from water via pervaporation. The membrane was selected due to its structural similarity to PDMS, excellent hydrophobicity, lower cost, and wider availability. Characterization techniques such as FTIR, FESEM, and water contact angle measurements were employed to evaluate the membrane. Pervaporation experiments were conducted at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50°C and feed concentrations of 5 to 15 wt% ethyl acetate under a vacuum pressure of 200 mbar. The results demonstrated that at 5 wt% feed concentration and 30°C, the membrane achieved a total flux of 0.73 kg/m²·h and a selectivity of 33.2. Increasing the temperature to 50°C nearly doubled the permeate flux but reduced selectivity by 20%. Similarly, raising the feed concentration to 15 wt% doubled the flux but decreased selectivity by 40%. The study highlights the efficacy of ELASTOSIL® RT 601 A/B as a cost-effective and accessible membrane for ethyl acetate-water separation under varying operational conditions.

Keywords

Pervaporation

PDMS

Ethyl acetate

Silicone

Sepration

Membrane

Subjects