Omid Ghaffari Nik - Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Ahmad Ahmad - Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Mitra Abdollahi - Research Lab. for Separation Processes, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran, Iran
Toraj Mohammadi - Research Lab. for Separation Processes, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran, Iran

Ethylene glycol (EG) is one of the important and high applicable solvents in chemical industries. The production process of this chemical in petrochemical industries is encountered with problems regarding separation of a large amount of water from produced EG with leads to intensive energy consumption in several evaporators and vacuum distillation columns. This work reports an experimental study on Pervaporation (PV) dehydration of EG/water mixtures using commercially NaA zeolite membrane (Mitsui- Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Japan). Concentration range investigated (CEG > 70 wt. %) was selected according to existing industrial needs. Recirculation flow rate was kept at a value of 1.5 l/min. Fluxes and separation factors were monitored as dehydration proceeded. Effect of temperature was investigated in a range of 50 to 70>C. Obtained results showed successful performance of the membrane for dehydration of EG/water mixtures. It was observed that at 70>C and with 70 wt. % initial EG concentration, larger fluxes and separation factors could be obtained (0.94 kg.m-2.h-1) and 1177, respectively.

Pervaporation, NaA Zeolite, Dehydration, Ethylene glycol, Zeolite membranes