Effect of separating layer in pervaporation composite membrane for MTBE/MeOH separation

The composite membranes with polyvinylalcohol (PVA) as separating layer material and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or cellulose acetate (CA) as supporting layer material were prepared for separating methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)/MeOH mixture by pervaporation (PV). The results showed that PV performance of the composite membrane with PVA membrane as separating layer was superior to that with CA membrane as separating layer, and the PV performance of PVA/CA composite membrane with CA membrane as supporting layer was better. The parameters to prepare the composite membrane remarkably affected PV performance of the composite membrane. The permeate flux of both composite membranes of PVA/PAN and PVA/CA was over 400 g/m2 h, and the concentration of MeOH in the permeate reached over 99.9 wt.% for separating MTBE/MeOH mixture.