Abstract
Environmental pollution by organic solvents in both liquid and vapor phases, such as trichloroethylene, toluene, gasoline and so on, is now serious problem in the world. Membrane separation technology will be useful tool for controlling the pollution, and the research on membrane materials and development of solvent recovery process have just started.
In this review, air and water pollution at this moment will be surveyed, and the membrane separation technology applicable for the control, that is pervaporation, vapor permeation and reverse osmosis, will be summarized. The membrane separation data reported with various types of membranes, mainly rubber membranes, for organic chlorine compounds and organic solvents, such as toluene, benzene, acetone etc., will be reviewed.
