Permeation and separation of aqueous alcohol solutions through grafted poly(vinyl alcohol) latex membranes

Abstract
The poly(vinyl alcohol)–acrylonitrile–2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (PVA–AN–HEMA) grafted latex membrane was synthesized by grafting AN and HEMA mixture on PVA in aqueous solution. The ceric ammonium nitric in nitric acid was was used as a catalyst. This membrane has well‐balanced composition of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components and was proved by transition electron microscopy to process microstructure between continuous and disperse phases. The permeability of alcohol–water solution and separativity of phenol–water solution through this PVA–AN–HEMA membrane were studied. It was found that the permeation rate for aqueous solution as as alcohol–water was greater than that for pure water, and the separativity of phenol–water solution by pervaporation increased as the amount of PHEMA increased.