Molecular transport of alcohols through engineering polymer membranes

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:arial;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">Sorption and diffusion of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-pentanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol into three engineering polymer membranes have been studied in the temperature interval of 25-60°C. The results have been analyzed in terms of the Fickian diffusion equation. The anomalous transport behaviour of the rubber-alcohol systems is attributed to a leaching out of the polymer additives during solvent immersion. The transport coefficients and activation parameters have been discussed in terms of the polymer-solvent interactions in addition to their effect on the size and shape of the penetrate molecules.</span>