• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.239-245
• /
• 2003

The origin of large difference of selectivity of $C_3H_6$ over $C_3H_8$ between pure gas and mixed gas through silver polymer electrolyte membranes is investigated. Firstly, the effect of feed condition on the permeance of mixture gas ($C_3H_6/C_3H^8$) and the separation performance is examined. Upon decrease of the $C_3\;H_6$ concentration, the $C_3H_6$ permeance decreased whereas the permeance of $C_3H_8$ increased, resulting in the decrease of the selectivity of $C_3H_6/C_3H_8/.$ This result is ascribed to the $C_3H_6$-induced plasticization of membranes. Experimental results were validated by means of mathematical modeling, where pressure independent permeabilities were used.