Effect of water on the facilitated transport of olefins through solid polymer electrolyte membranes

Polymer electrolyte membranes composed of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (POZ) and AgBF4 are prepared for olefin/paraffin separations. The stability and effect of relative humidity on permeance and selectivity are investigated using propylene/propane mixed gases. The selectivity of propylene over propane remains high on the long time operation with a dry feed gas, indicating that membranes are effective For propylene/propane separation in the absence of water. As humidity of the feed gas increases, both propylene and propane permeances increase, which resulting in the slight decrease of selectivity. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.