Mixed Matrix PVA-GO-TiO2 Membranes for the Dehydration of Isopropyl Alcohol by Pervaporation

In the current work, mixed matrix membranes of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-graphene oxide (GO)-titanium dioxide (TiO2) were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique for the separation of isopropyl alcohol from its azeotropic mixture with water by pervaporation. In this work, the effects of the feed water concentration in the range of 10%-40% and the feed temperature of 50-80 degrees C have been investigated. The characterization of membranes was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the contact angle measurements. The Arrhenius activation energy for permeation was determined to be in the range of 8-12.8 kJ/mol. The results of the diffusion coefficient values and the Arrhenius activation energy parameters showed that the water-selectivity was improved at higher concentrations of GO-TiO2.