Temperature Effect on the Concentration of Vapors of Organic Solvents in Nitrogen by Use of Silicone Rubber Hollow-Fiber Membranes

Abstract

The effect of operation temperature on the performance of membrane separation processes for recovery of trace organic vapors from waste air was studied experimentally, using silicone rubber hollow fibers. Permeabilities of vapors of pure Freon 113, acetone, n-pentane and carbon tetrachloride were measured at low temperature and correlations of these values with partial pressures and temperatures were presented. Permeation data with gas mixtures (nitrogen gas containing 2-6.5% of these vapors) were compared with theoretical calculations based on a cross plug flow model. A low-temperature operation had the advantage of a rich permeate. © 1992, The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan. All rights reserved.