Methyl Ethyl Ketone Removal from Water via Pervaporation Using Hydrophobic Silicone Membranes

This study investigates the separation of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) from aqueous solutions using pervaporation with a hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane. Based on Hansen solubility parameter analysis, ELASTOSIL® RT ۶۰۱ A/B was selected as a cost-effective alternative to the widely used Sylgard ۱۸۴, offering comparable structural characteristics at approximately one-third of the cost. The membrane was characterized by FT-IR, NMR, SEM, and water contact angle measurements to confirm its chemical composition and morphology. Pervaporation experiments were conducted at feed concentrations of ۵–۱۵ wt% MEK and temperatures of ۴۰–۶۰ °C under a vacuum pressure of ۲۰۰ mbar. At ۵ wt% MEK and ۴۰ °C, the membrane achieved a total flux of ۱.۰۲ kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and a separation factor of ۳۳. The results demonstrated that increasing temperature and MEK concentration enhanced the overall flux but reduced selectivity due to higher vapor pressure gradients and accelerated diffusion of water. The findings confirm the potential of ELASTOSIL® RT ۶۰۱ A/B membranes as a technically viable and economically favorable alternative for MEK recovery from aqueous streams, highlighting their promise for industrial solvent purification and environmental remediation applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pervaporation ، Silicon membrane ، methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) recovery ، Water treatment