Soheill Azadikhah Marian - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Azad, North Branch, Tehran, Iran
Morteza Asghari - Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
Zahra Amini - Separation Processes Research Group (SPRG), Department of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

In this work, performance of composite membranes was investigated for desalination of Kashan city’s water via pervaporation process. PEBA/PAN/PE, PEBA/PSF/PE andPEBA+NaX/PSF/PE composite membranes that used, was synthesized via a phase inversion route. For all experiments under 45◦C, salt rejection was too high and equals to 99.9% that this quantity dropped by increasing the temperature that cause membrane swelling in high temperatures. Water contact angle and water take-up were measured to evaluate the hydrophilicity of the membrane. Also the effect of operating conditions including feed temperature and permeate pressure on permeability and selectivity isdiscussed. A permeate flux of 4.93 kg/m2h with salt rejection of 99.9% could be achieved at a feed temperature of 50 °C and a vacuum of 0.04 bar. Apparent diffusioncoefficients of water at various permeate pressure and feed temperature are calculated. The most effective parameter was feed temperature.

Composite Membrane, Desalination, Operational Conditions, Pervaporation