Mass transfer of dilute 1,2‐dimethoxyethane aqueous solutions during pervaporation process

Abstract Pervaporation of 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (1,2‐DME) is evaluated by crosslinked oligosilylstyrene–poly(dimethylsiloxane) composite membranes. A low flow velocity of the feed solution (1.0 L/min), corresponding to a Reynolds number of 220, is used. The pervaporation models are developed by combining the resistance in series and solution–diffusion models. The effects of the boundary layer on the performance of pervaporation are estimated by comparing experimental and theoretical data. The permeation fluxes of 1,2‐DME and water fit very well with the calculated data from the models, but a deviation of the separation factor between the experimental and theoretical data is observed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100:2075–2084, 2006