Extraction of butanol from aqueous solutions by pervaporation through poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)

Poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) was synthesized using a TaCl5-Al(i-Bu)(3) catalysis system. Pervaporation and sorption of n-butanol-water mixtures were studied, and the peculiarities of water and butanol co-permeation are discussed. The strong dependence of water partial flux (with a minimum at 1 wt.% butanol in feed) on butanol concentration in feed was observed. S-shaped isotherms of butanol and total sorption were found for PTMSP in 0-1 wt.% concentration range. It appears that blocking of PTMSP nanopores by high sorbing organic molecules controls the pervaporation of butanol from dilute aqueous solutions. Data are discussed in regard with PTMSP morphology. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.