MORE | Spring 2018

ZIF-71/PDMS Mixed Matrix Membranes for Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol Separations by Pervaporation

Zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIF) are known to improve membrane performance in biofuel separation. This research studies ZIF-71/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixed matrix membrane performance in pervaporation of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) solutions. Membranes with 0, 25, 40, and 60 weight percent (wt%) ZIF-71are synthesized and tested with model solutions of ABE. The results show that 40wt% is the optimal loading for fuel selectivity, while 60wt% membranes achieve highest permeability. Future work would include testing the optimal membranes with real ABE fermentation broth. This research can be helpful in enabling pervaporation to be commercially coupled with fermentation for continuous and cost-effective biofuel production.