Multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced flexible blend nanocomposites membranes for pervaporation separation of aromatic-aliphatic mixtures

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) reinforced NR-NBR blend nanocomposite membranes were prepared and potentially employed for the pervaporation separation of aliphatic – aromatic mixtures. For a 50 wt% benzene feed, the blend nanocomposite membranes had a total flux of 1.265 kgm−2h−1 and separation factor of 1.59 at room temperature. The blend membranes exhibited aromatic selectivity for the separation of aromatic – aliphatic mixtures. 2 phr MWCNT/blend nanocomposite membranes exhibited similar trend for the separation of 10 wt% feed toluene mixture. Trasmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the blend nanocomposites revealed the well dispersion and distribution of MWCNT in the polymer matrix. The well dispersed MWCNT/blend membranes selectively separate aromatic components from aliphatic – aromatic mixtures.