ABSTRACT:The influence of diisocyanate and diol compounds of polyurethane and crosslinking agent on the separation of phenol aqueous solution by pervaporation was investigated. Polyurethanes were prepared by polyaddition of diisocyanate and diol compounds and trimethylolpropane (TMP) using dibutyltindilaulate as a catalyst. The polyurethane membrane was prepared by a casting method and was sandwiched with a porous polypropylene membrane (Celgard 2500). Pervaporation measurement was carried out under vacuum on the permeate side, and the permeant was collected with a liquid nitrogen trap. Little influence of diisocyanate compounds on the phenol permselectivity through diisocyanate-polytetramethyleneglycol [PTMG(1000)] membranes was observed since the influence on the solubility and the diffusivity was small. The phenol permselectivity was increased with an increase in the molecular weight of PTMG and polycaprolactone diol (PCL) for the 1,6-diisocyanato hexane (HMDI)-PTMG and HMDI-PCL membranes. It was considered that the increase in phenol diffusivity can be attributed to an increase in phenol selectivity. The permeability and selectivity of HMDI-[PTMG(2900)-TMP] membrane was relatively constant below the 2% TMP content.

Separation of phenol from dilute aqueous solution through polyurethane membranes by pervaporation was investigated. The effect of the methylene group length in poly(alkylene glycols) on permselectivity and solubility of phenol was studied. The poly(alkylene glycols) were obtained by polycondensation of 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, and 1,10-decanediol with a sulfuric acid catalyst. Polyethyleneglycol and polytetramethyleneglycol were commercially available. Progress of the polymerization in the poly(alkylene glycols) was confirmed by FTIR, 1 H-NMR analysis, and SEC measurement. The polyurethanes were obtained by polyaddition reaction of 1,6-hexamethylenediisocyanate and the poly(alkylene glycol), and were confirmed by FTIR analysis and SEC measurement. The phenol concentration in a permeate liquid increased from 25.1 to 36.2 wt %, and the phenol partial flux also increased from 49.3 to 68.9 g ⅐ m Ϫ2 ⅐ h Ϫ1 with increasing the methylene group length in the poly(alkylene glycols), whereas the water partial flux slightly decreased. As a result of sorption measurements, the change in the degree of swelling was small, and the phenol concentration in the membrane increased from 42.1 to 70.8 wt %. The increase in the methylene group length of the poly(alkylene glycols) should contribute to an increase in the hydrophobicity of the polyurethane so that the solubility of phenol to the membrane should increase. The phenol concentration in the permeate liquid and the phenol partial flux increased with an increase in the methylene group length of the poly(alkylene glycols) due to the increase in the phenol solubility for the polyurethane membranes.

Separation of phenol from dilute aqueous solution through polyurethane membranes by pervaporation was investigated. The effect of the methylene group length in poly(alkylene glycols) on permselectivity and solubility of phenol was studied. The poly(alkylene glycols) were obtained by polycondensation of 1,6‐hexanediol, 1,8‐octanediol, and 1,10‐decanediol with a sulfuric acid catalyst. Polyethyleneglycol and polytetramethyleneglycol were commercially available. Progress of the polymerization in the poly(alkylene glycols) was confirmed by FTIR, 1H‐NMR analysis, and SEC measurement. The polyurethanes were obtained by polyaddition reaction of 1,6‐hexamethylenediisocyanate and the poly(alkylene glycol), and were confirmed by FTIR analysis and SEC measurement. The phenol concentration in a permeate liquid increased from 25.1 to 36.2 wt %, and the phenol partial flux also increased from 49.3 to 68.9 g · m−2 · h−1 with increasing the methylene group length in the poly(alkylene glycols), whereas the water partial flux slightly decreased. As a result of sorption measurements, the change in the degree of swelling was small, and the phenol concentration in the membrane increased from 42.1 to 70.8 wt %. The increase in the methylene group length of the poly(alkylene glycols) should contribute to an increase in the hydrophobicity of the polyurethane so that the solubility of phenol to the membrane should increase. The phenol concentration in the permeate liquid and the phenol partial flux increased with an increase in the methylene group length of the poly(alkylene glycols) due to the increase in the phenol solubility for the polyurethane membranes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 654–664, 2000

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