Separation of ethanol/water mixtures with hydrophobic alumina membrane in vapor permeation

소수성 알루미나막의 증가투과에 의한 에탄올의 분리

The surface of porous alumina membrane was modified with silane coupling agent in order to enhance hydrophobicity. The contact angle of water to the surface-modified alumina membrane was greater than $90^{\circ}$. The surface-modified membrane was tested in vapor permeation for the concentration of aqueous ethanol. With the increase of ethanol concentration in the feed, permeation flux increased due to the greater affinity of ethanol with surface-modified alumina membrane than that of water. The experimental results showed that the permeation rate of surface-modified alumina membrane was 15~1000 times greater than that of polymer membranes.