Separation of MeOH/MTBE mixtures through chitosan composite membranes using pervaporation

Chitin, which is obtained mainly from the cuticle of a marine crustacean, has recently aroused great interest in its industrial and biomedical applications. Chitosan, deacetylated form of chitin, appears to be more useful for biomedical application and dehydration of aqueous solutions than chitin, since it has both hydroxyl and amino groups that can be modified easily. Amino groups on chitosan reacts with dialdehyde to form a Schiff base and then crosslinked, and can be easily neutralized with sulfuric acid and metal ions. Polyfunctional metal ions can form a metal-polyelectrolyte complexes with chitosan. Membranes used in modules so far working in industrial pervaporation plants are generally of composite type. This composite membrane was prepared by coating a porous polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane support of definite structure with a thin, dense layer of permselective chitosan. To apply industrial scale pervaporation process for dehydration of aqueous ethanol and isopropanol, chitosan composite membranes were prepared and tested at various conditions.