Abstract
Carbon membranes were prepared by coating thin layers of lignocresol derived from Hinoki cypress by the phase-separation method and then carbonizing the lignocresol by high frequency induction heating at a heating rate of 500°C/min. The thickness of the membrane formed on the outer surface of a porous alumina substrate was about 1000 nm. Carbon membrane with a high performance of gas permeation showed a high water-selectivity in pervaporation of water/alcohol separation. The separation factor increased with increasing the heating temperature. The water concentration of the permeate was more than 99.5 wt% and the water flux was more than one or two order larger than the alcohol flux in the membrane prepared at 600 or 700°C. Carbon membranes derived from lignin-based materials provide one of the promising candidates for the separation of the liquid mixtures
