Evaluation of PTMSP Membranes in Achieving Enhanced Ethanol Removal from Fermentations by Pervaporation

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Abstract

The use of membrane processes for the recovery of fermentation products has been gaining increased acceptance in recent years. Pervaporation has been studied in the past as a process for simultaneous fermentation and recovery of volatile products such as ethanol and butanol. However, membrane fouling and low permeate fluxes have imposed limitations on the effectiveness of the process. In thisstudy, we characterize the performance of a substituted polyacetylene membrane, poly[(1-trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP), in the recovery of ethanol from aqueous mixtures and fermentation broths. Pervaporation using PTMSP membranes shows a distinct advantage over conventional poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) membranes in ethanol removal. The flux with PTMSP is about three fold higher and theconcentration factor is about twofold higher than the corresponding performance achieved with PDMS under similar conditions. The performance of PTMSP with fermentation broths shows a reduction in both flux and concentration factor relative to ethanol-water mixtures. However, the PTMSP membranes indicate initial promise of increased fouling resistance in operation with cell-containingfermentation broths.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)469-482
Number of pages14
JournalApplied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Part A Enzyme Engineering and Biotechnology
Volume63-65
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-570-21170

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