Preparation of composite membranes of dense PAA-poly(BMA-co-MMA) IPN supported on porous and crosslinked poly(BMA-co-MMA) sublayer and their pervaporation characteristics

For the pervaporation of water-ethanol mixtures, new composite membranes having poly(acrylic acid)poly(butyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) interpenetrating polymer network [PAA-P(BMA-co-MMA) IPN] skin layer supported on porous and crosslinked poly(BMA-co-MMA) were prepared. The morphology of the sub-layer of the composite membrane prepared in the presence of 60 wt% solvent showed cellular structure, on the other hand that of sublayer prepared in the presence of 70 wt% solvent presented very porous interconnected pore structure with macrovoids. Permeation rates of the composite membranes were largely influenced by the morphology of the sublayer. Separation factors increased with the increase of the degree of crosslinking of the PAA network. It was found that permeation rates could be increased by introducing anionic charges on carboxyl groups of the PAA. The permeation rate changes of the PAA-P(BMA-co-MMA) IPN composite membranes according to the feed compositions showed quite similar pattern with the swelling behavior in water-ethanol mixtures.