Plasma-treated polyethersulfone coated with crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol): composite membranes for pervaporation dehydration of ethanol

Composite membranes with crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix as selective layer coated on a polyethersulfone supporting porous layer were prepared aiming at separating ethanol/water mixtures by pervaporation. A polyethersulfone asymmetric microporous membrane was synthesized by the wet phase inversion process. The support membrane was then exposed to air plasma to activate the surface. The selective dense layer was obtained by coating of PVA and a crosslinking agent over the polyethersulfone substrate, followed by thermal treatment. The morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for both, support membrane and the coated polymeric layers. Surface physicochemical properties were evaluated through measuring the contact angle (θ) and the estimation of surface free energy (γS) and adhesion work. The surface chemical composition of support membrane and coated hydrophilic layers were characterized by infrared spectra with horizontal attenuated total reflectance (FT-IR/HATR). The swelling degree of PVA dense membranes, and the pervaporation performance of the crosslinked PVA/PES composite membranes, manufactured with several coating steps, were evaluated with water/ethanol (20/80 wt%) mixtures at temperatures in the range of 30–60 C. Results of the effective pervaporation dehydration of ethanol are discussed in terms of membrane morphology and the solution-diffusion transport mechanism.