Molecularly imprinted cellulose membranes for pervaporation separation of xylene isomers

Abstract Molecularly imprinted polymeric membranes (MIPMs) were prepared from cellulose and 1,2- dihydroxybenzene as a print molecule with imprinting ratio of 0.5 and 1.0. Those membranes were applied to the separation of xylene isomers by pervaporation. The molecularly imprinted membranes selectively incorporated o -xylene from o -/ m - and o -/ p - mixtures at a low o -xylene concentration region, the adsorption selectivity toward o -xylene was determined to be 7.15 and 4.24, respectively, implying that 1,2-dihydroxybenzene worked well as the print molecule for o -xylene recognition; the pervaporation was carried out at 40 °C and at the downstream pressure of 0.5 kPa and showed permselectivity toward o -xylene at low o -xylene concentrations while toward m - and p -xylene at high o -xylene concentrations. The molecularly imprinted membranes gave higher flux than the control non-imprinted membrane. The results obtained in the present study revealed that molecular imprinting is one of promising methods to prepare separation membranes for pervaporation.