Separation of aqueous phenol through polyurethane membranes by pervaporation. II. Influence of diisocyanate and diol compounds and crosslinker

Abstract

The influence of diisocyanate and diol compounds of polyurethane and crosslinking agent on the separation of phenol aqueous solution by pervaporation was investigated. Polyurethanes were prepared by polyaddition of diisocyanate and diol compounds and trimethylolpropane (TMP) using dibutyltindilaulate as a catalyst. The polyurethane membrane was prepared by a casting method and was sandwiched with a porous polypropylene membrane (Celgard® 2500). Pervaporation measurement was carried out under vacuum on the permeate side, and the permeant was collected with a liquid nitrogen trap. Little influence of diisocyanate compounds on the phenol permselectivity through diisocyanate–polytetramethyleneglycol [PTMG(1000)] membranes was observed since the influence on the solubility and the diffusivity was small. The phenol permselectivity was increased with an increase in the molecular weight of PTMG and polycaprolactone diol (PCL) for the 1,6-diisocyanato hexane (HMDI)–PTMG and HMDI–PCL membranes. It was considered that the increase in phenol diffusivity can be attributed to an increase in phenol selectivity. The permeability and selectivity of HMDI–[PTMG(2900)–TMP] membrane was relatively constant below the 2% TMP content. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 439–448, 1999