Preparation and characterization of PVA-SiO2 nanocomposite membranes for seawater desalination by pervaporation

Pervaporation is a membrane process that offers high separation performance and has an important potential for the treatment of saline water sources. In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) PVA-SiO2 nanocomposite membranes were prepared by solution-casting method, pervaporative desalination studies carried out synthetic seawater (35 g L-1) at 30, 40 50?C. Effects temperatures incorporation SiO2 on pervaporation polymeric investigated. Membranes characterized scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). experiments conducted 50?C, permeate flux 4.93 kg m-2 h-1 with salt rejection 99.3% obtained. The highest was 99.8% temperature 30?C. results showed PVA remarkably enhanced nano-SiO2 into matrix.