Optimization of PDMS/blended PES Composite Membrane performance by Response Surface Methodology

Ethanol is a renewable, environmentally friendly, and an alternative fuel. Some advantages of this fuel are reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gasesinto the atmosphere [1]. There are many polymeric membrane materials which are used in pervaporation process for ethanolrecovery but the most alcohol-permselective of them is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) [2]. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the main effects, quadratic effects,interaction between polymer and crosslink agent concentrations and optimize the responses to these parameters by use of Response Surface Method (RSM).