Novel pervaporation membranes based on hydroxyethyl cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol modified with fullerene derivatives for enhanced isopropanol dehydration

The rapid implementation of membrane processes in the industry requires novel membrane materials. One of the promising ways to obtain a membrane material with improved properties is to combine the advantages of a polymer and a modifier (in particular, carbon nanoparticles). In the present work, novel pervaporation membranes based on hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend and HEC/PVA/fullerene derivative (polyhydroxylated fullerene, carboxyfullerene, and fullerene derivative with l-arginine) composites were developed for dehydration. The membrane composition and the cross-linking with maleic acid were optimized. The membranes were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron and atomic force microscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle and swelling measurements. Transport properties of the membranes were studied in the pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol. The cross-linked dense HEC/PVA(30/70 wt%)/carboxyfullerene (5 wt%) membrane had the optimal transport properties in pervaporation dehydration of isopropanol (12–100 wt% water) at 22 °C: permeation flux of 24–1633 g/(m2 h), 99.99–98.3 wt% water in permeate.