Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
1617672 
Journal Article 
Novel sodium alginate/polyethyleneimine polyion complex membranes for pervaporation dehydration at the azeotropic composition of various alcohols 
Devi, DA; Smitha, B; Sridhar, S; Jawalkar, SS; Aminabhavi, TM 
2007 
1 
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
ISSN: 0142-0356 
82 
11 
993-1003 
WOS:000250821900005 
Dense polyion complex membranes of anionic sodium alginate
(NaAlg) and cationic polyethyleneimine (PEI) were prepareand crosslinked with glutaraldehyde for
dehydration of alcohol-water mixtures by pervaporation (PV). The membranes were characterized by
ion-exchange capacity measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning
calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the extent of cross-linking,
intermolecular interactions, thermal stability, and surface and cross-sectional morphologies,
respectively. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the crystallinity of the
membranes. PV dehydration characteristics of the membranes were determined as a function of PEI
content, crosslinking time as well as feed water composition. Transport parameters such as
sorption, diffusion and permeability of water and alcohols through the membranes were determined.
Among the four different membrane compositions, the polyion complex containing 40% PEI was found
to yield optimum separation data in terms of membrane stability, selectivity and permeability. On
the other hand, 10% PEI-containing membrane gave the highest selectivity with the lowest flux at
ambient temperature, but the membranes were not sufficiently stable. (C) 2007 Society of Chemical
Industry 
pervaporation; azeotrope; alcohol-water mixture; sodium alginate-PEI polyion complex