Study of enhanced physical and pervaporation properties in composite membrane

Novel mixed matrix membranes of Sodium Alginate (NaAlg) were developed by the incorporation ofunmodified, modified Phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) then cross-linked with glutaraldehyde externally. These membranes were prepared by the solution casting technique. Pervaporation (PV) experiments have been performed with pure NaAlg, unmodified NaAlg-PMA5, NaAlg-PMA10, modified NaAlg-mPMA5, and NaAlg-mPMA10 (wt. % of PMA 5 and 10) at 30, 40 and 50°C, to separate water-isopropanol feed mixtures containing 10-30 wt. % of water. Pervaporation results of NaAlg-mPMA10 produced a highest separation factor of 9028 with a flux of 0.269 kg/m².h for 10 wt. % of water containing feed mixture. Both separation factor and flux for water increased significantly with increasing content of mPMA into NaAlg; a significant improvement in PV performance was observed for NaAlg-mPMA5 and NaAlg-mPMA10 membranes when compared to pure NaAlg & PMA-5, PMA-10 membrane.