Separation characteristics of acetic acid–water mixtures by using poly(vinyl alcohol‐g‐4‐vinyl pyridine) membranes by pervaporation and temperature difference evapomeation techniques

The separation of acetic acid–water mixtures was carried by using pervaporation (PV) and temperature difference evapomeation (TDEV) methods. For the separation process 4‐vinyl pyridine was grafted on poly(vinyl alcohol). Membranes were prepared from the graft‐copolymer by casting method and crosslinked by heat treatment. The effect of feed composition on the separation characteristics was studied and the performances of the separation methods were compared. Permeation rates obtained in PV were found to be high, whereas separation factors were high in TDEV method. Membranes gave permeation rates of 0.1–3.0 kg/(m² h) and separation factors of 2.0–61.0, depending on the composition of the feed mixture and the method. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2030–2039, 2006