removal of dilute benzene in water through ionic liquid/poly(vinyl chloride) membranes by pervaporation

this paper focuses on the effects of the addition of an ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-butylimidazilium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide ([abim]tfsi), which has a high affinity for benzene, into the poly(vinyl chloride) (pvc) membrane on the pervaporation characteristics of the removal of benzene from aqueous solutions of dilute benzene. when aqueous solutions of 100～500 ppm benzene were permeated through the [abim]tfsi)/pvc membranes, they showed a high benzene/water selectivity and permeability of these membranes was enhanced with increasing [abim]tfsi content significantly. these pervaporation characteristics are discussed from the viewpoint of chemical and physical structure of [abim]tfsi)/pvc membranes in detail. the mechanism of permeation and separation was analyzed by the solution-diffusion model.