On-Line NIR to Regulate Pervaporation Process: Application for Dehydration

• Main Authors: Thomas La Rocca, Emilie Carretier, Thomas Clair, Martial Etienne, Philippe Moulin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
• Series: Membranes
• Subjects: on-line near-infrared spectroscopy; pervaporation; HybSi® membrane; organic purification
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/8/3/74

The regeneration of volatile organic solvents via dehydration tests, from 90 wt %, was evaluated by pervaporation using an on-line near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer. Experiments were performed using a bis(triethoxysilyl)methane (BTESM)-based ceramic HybSi® membrane at temperatures of 20, 30 and 40 °C. The presence of an on-line NIR allows continuous monitoring of the process without sampling, and quickly estimates mass fractions of species in the retentate. Dehydration tests were performed at 30 °C in order to confirm the on-line NIR reproducibility, and closely matched results obtained with an off-line densimeter. These results validated the usefulness of the on-line NIR and provided the same precision whatever the mass fraction in the retentate. A good on-line reproducibility was found, with an agreement between the on-line NIR and off-line densimeter, obtaining an average deviation of ±0.058 wt %, ±0.17 wt % and ±0.049 wt %, respectively, at 20, 30 and 40 °C.