POMS Membrane for Selective Separation of Ethanol from Dilute Alcohol-Aqueous Solutions by Pervaporation

Lignocellulosic biomass has potential as an alternative to corn as starting material for the production of ethanol for the development of non-fossil fuel energy sources. In this case, low concentration bioethanol is gained by yeast fermentation and it has to be efficiently recovered and concentrated. For this purpose pervaporation separation of dilute alcohol-aqueous solutions was carried out using a poly(octhylmethyl siloxane) [POMS] membrane. The effect of different process parameters (feed composition, feed temperature, feed flow rate, permeate pressure) on pervaporation performance were investigated and discussed in terms of the separation factor and the total flux. The membrane studied was ethanol to water selective at ethanol feed concentrations lower than 2.5% w/w, while the highest permeability was achieved at feed temperature of 95°C.