Butanol has shown potential as an alternative biofuel. It can be obtained through ABE fermentation, which produces 1-butanol, ethanol and acetone. Pervaporation is a potential separation process, since it can be successfully applied to remove trace components such as butanol, which is toxic to the cells. The development of an effective membrane is the limiting factor for this technology. Activated carbon-containing polydimethylsiloxane membranes were prepared by varying the filler content up to 2 wt%. The resulting membranes were characterized for the separation of model solutions with 1-butanol, acetone, ethanol and water by pervaporation. The effects of activated carbon load (0, 1, 2 wt%) and temperature (25, 40, 55ºC) on flux and separation factor were evaluated. The addition of 1 wt% activated carbon increased membrane free volume, changed surface morphology and showed flux of 45 g/m2h, with separation factor for 1-butanol of 370, at 55ºC.

RESUMO Membranas de microfiltração de poliéterimida foram preparadas pelo método de inversão de fases para controlar a espessura, porosidade e tamanho de poros dos filmes. 1-metil-2-pirrolidona foi utilizada como solvente e água como não solvente. As propriedades das membranas foram avaliadas por meio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, microfiltração de água produzida sintética em modo frontal e tangencial, bem como mecanismos de bloqueio dos poros dos sistemas conforme descrito pelo modelo de Hermia. Os resultados mostraram que a morfologia das membranas foi significativamente alterada pela cinética de precipitação. O diâmetro médio de poros variou de 1,2 a 10,4 µm, ambas com estrutura tipo dedos. Testes de permeação mostraram menor declínio do fluxo total para sistemas com escoamento tangencial (89,5%) quando comparado com o escoamento frontal (97,3%). Entretanto, o declínio reversível do fluxo foi maior do que o irreversível para ambos os sistemas. O coeficiente de rejeição foi maior do que 95,5%, medido pela turbidez. Com relação aos mecanismos para o declínio do fluxo, observou-se que o bloqueio de poros intermediário foi capaz de explicar os resultados para a filtração frontal. O modelo de Hermia não se ajustou bem ao escoamento tangencial, provavelmente devido ao fato de o fluxo ter se estabilizado com o tempo. Os resultados mostraram o potencial do sistema para ser usado em microfiltração em longos prazos, desde que a lavagem periódica das membranas seja realizada.

ABSTRACT Polyetherimide microfiltration membranes were prepared by phase inversion method aiming the control of film thickness, porosity and pore size. 1-methyl-2-pirrolidone was used as solvent and water as non-solvent. The properties of the membranes were addressed by means of scanning electron microscopy, dead-end and tangential flow microfiltration of a synthetic produced water effluent as well as the pore blocking mechanisms of the systems as described by Hermia models. The results showed that membrane morphology was significant modified by the kinetics of precipitation. The medium pore size ranged from 1.2 to 10.4 µm, both with finger-like structure. Permeation tests showed total flux decline lower for tangential flow mode (89.5%) than the dead-end (97.3%). However, the reversible flux decline was higher than the irreversible one in both systems. The rejection was higher than 95.5%, which was addressed by turbidity. Regarding to the mechanisms to describe flux decline, it was evidenced that intermediate pore blocking was able to explain the results for dead-end filtration. Hermia model did not adjust to tangential flow mode, probably due to the stationary flux obtained with time. The results showed the potential of the system to be used in long term microfiltration, since the washing of the membranes is periodically observed.

Abstract The fractionation of apitoxin (bee venom) by means of a commercial 10 kDa ultrafiltration membrane was investigated aiming at the removal of phospholipase A2, the main allergenic substance. The feed content was varied from 1 to 50 g apitoxin/L, in deionized water, and caused changes in membrane flux and rejection, due to concentration polarization. The increase in pressure difference and stirring rate improved the flux through the membrane. The best result was achieved for 1 g apitoxin/L in feed stream, with a pressure difference of 220 kPa, and 750 rpm, with a permeate flux of 103 kg/m2h. The use of ultrafiltration was efficient to improve the permeate safety since biological tests revealed that the remaining enzyme lost its ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of phospholipids.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes with different concentrations of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were prepared in order to evaluate their gas separation performances. Mixed matrix membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transformed infrared, positron annihilation lifetime and Raman spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction. The permeabilities to CO2, CH4, N2 and O2 were determined. No phase separation was noticed. For carbon nanotubes content of 1 wt%, it was shown a decrease in membrane permeability with slight increase in ideal selectivity, compared to pure PDMS. However, the increase in the filler load up to 6.7 wt% increased the free volume average size of the membranes, improving the contribution of the diffusion to the transport and decreasing ideal selectivities of CO2/CH4, CO2/N2 and O2/N2.