MIXED MATRIX BLEND MEMBRANES OF SODIUM ALGINATE ? HYDROXY PROPYL CELLULOSE LOADED WITH HALLOYSITE NANO CLAY USED IN PERVAPORATION TECHNIQUE FOR DEHYDRATION OF ISOPROPANOL MIXTURE AT 30 0C

Mixed matrix blend membranes (MMMs) of Sodium alginate (SA) - Hydroxy propyl cellulose (HPC) were prepared by incorporating with Halloysite nanoclay (HNC) by solution casting technique and characterized by various physicochemical techniques like FTIR, SEM and TGA. Pervaporation experiments of these membranes were investigated for the separation of isopropanol / water mixture at 30 0C. Membrane performance showed dependence on the extent of Halloysite nanoclay (HNC) loading. The 0.3 wt % HNC-loaded blend membrane SA-HPCL-3 had the highest selectivity of 2359, which declined considerably at higher loading of HNC. The flux of 0.3 wt % HNC-loaded membrane of SA-HPCL-3 was higher than that of pristine SA-HPC blend membrane. The effect of feed water composition was studied on the PV performance. Solubility selectivity was higher than diffusion selectivity. Degree of swelling was smaller after HNC loading exhibiting better separation ability.