Pervaporation Membrane Development via PSf/PMMA/PDMS Polymeric Blends and ZSM-5/TiO2 Integration for Bioethanol Purification as Sustainable Green Energy

Abstract

This study introduces a novel nanocomposite membrane designed for pervaporation (PV) by employing polymer blending, inorganic integration, and polymer coating techniques. ZSM-5 or TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into a polysulfone (PSf) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix, followed by a coating of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to enhance perm-selectivity. Comprehensive analyses confirmed the well-dispersed nature of the nanoparticles and a significant increase in hydrophilicity. The research systematically examined the effects of particle loading, PDMS coating, and temperature on the separation efficiency. The findings revealed that the PDMS-coated PSf/PMMA/ZSM-5 membrane with a 2 wt.% loading demonstrated a substantial 41% increase in permeate flux and achieved a separation factor of 61.227 ± 1.92 at 40 °C. These improvements are attributed to the establishment of water channels and the molecular sieving effect introduced by the ZSM-5 incorporation. This study suggests that the developed membrane offers promising enhancements for ethanol recovery through pervaporation, showcasing the potential of nanocomposite membranes in improving separation efficiency and selectivity.