Separation of Dicyclopentaidene in a C5 stream using a tetraethoxydimethyl disiloxane-derived silica composite membrane

Abstract Hybrid separation of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) in a C5 stream was performed using a 1,1,3,3-tetraethoxy-1,3-dimethyl disiloxane (TEDMDS)-derived silica composite membrane. High purity DCPD, the key monomer of the C5 stream can be concentrated by removing CPD through pervaporation from the CPD-DCPD mixtures obtained by conventional distillation. Silica membranes were prepared using 1,1,3,3-tetraethoxy-1,3-dimethyl disiloxane (TEDMDS) by “spacer” and “template” techniques, which allowed for control the pore size of silica membranes using bridged alkoxides that have pendant groups. TEDMDS-derived silica membranes calcined at 450 °C showed a high total flux of 0.06–0.5 kg·m−2 h−1 with a CPD separation factor of 6–33 in a 95 wt% DCPD mixture, for feed temperature of 50–70 °C. The silica membranes prepared in this study shows relatively a high flux and acceptable separation factor. Therefore, they may find applications in commercial processes alongside the conventional distillation, by saving energy and reducing byproducts.