Separation Properties of Water/Ethanol Mixtures by Acrylamide Gel Polymerized in Pores of a Thin Ceramic Membrane

Effects of repeating polymerization of gel on water flux

Abstract

Separation properties of water/ethanol mixtures by acrylamide gel polymerized repeatedly in the pores of silica-alumina thin membrane were examined. By repeating the polymerization of gel, the flux of ethanol decreases monotonously, while the permeation of water is promoted as the flux of ethanol becomes sufficiently small. As a result, extremely high separation performance can be obtained. The increment of water flux is closely related to the swelling degree of the gel in water, and an optimum gel composition for the promotion of water permeation exists.