Crosslinked PVA/CS blends have been prepared. The number
of groups crosslinked in PVA/CS blend polymer was identified
from IEC studies. Characterization of the crosslinked membranes
by FTIR and X-RD confirmed the crosslinking reaction.
FTIR spectroscopy revealed the predicted interaction between
PVA and the cationic chitosan polymer. Membranes of this
study showed adequate thermal and mechanical stability to withstand
the PV experimental conditions, while dehydrating 1,4-
dioxane from its aqueous mixture. The developed membranes
could break the azeotrope containing 18 wt.% of water. With
increasing feedwater compositions, the membrane performance
exhibited a reduction in selectivity with an improvement in flux
due to increased swelling. However, with increasing membrane
thickness, selectivity has improved, but flux decreased. Higher
permeate pressure caused a reduction in both flux and selectivity.
Pervaporation through crosslinked PVA/CS blend membrane for
the feed mixture containing 9.35 wt.% of water could dehydrate
up to 97.04 wt.%.