RT info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis
T1 Development of polymeric membranes for the separation of water-alcohol mixtures for bioethanol purification in industry
A1 Muñoz González, Pedro
A2 Universidad de Valladolid. Facultad de Ciencias
K1 Polímeros
K1 Membranas
K1 Separaciones agua-alcohol
K1 Economía circular
AB The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has intensified the focus onbioethanol production as a renewable fuel alternative. However, the energy-intensivedistillation process for water-alcohol separation remains a significant challenge in bioethanolpurification. This study explores the development and characterization of thin-film compositemembranes (TFCMs) for efficient water-alcohol separation, aiming to provide a more energyefficient alternative to traditional methods.The membranes were evaluated under varying conditions of temperature (20°C, 30°C, 40°C,and 50°C) for their performance in separating water from methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol.Results demonstrated that the permeance of water remained dominant at highertemperatures (40°C and 50°C), highlighting the membranes' suitability for selective waterremoval in bioethanol purification processes. In contrast, alcohols such as methanol andethanol exhibited higher permeance at lower temperatures (20°C and 30°C), indicating themembranes’ tunable selectivity based on operating conditions.The study further revealed the time-dependent behavior of permeance, with alcoholsexperiencing a rapid decline in transport efficiency before stabilizing, while water maintainedconsistent performance over extended periods. This dynamic underscore the membranes'potential for long-term industrial applications with appropriate optimization.Overall, the developed membranes show promise for enhancing the efficiency of wateralcohol separation, contributing to the advancement of energy-efficient bioethanolproduction technologies. Future research is recommended to explore mixed water-alcoholsystems and investigate membrane stability under real-world conditions.
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/79060
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/79060
LA eng
NO Departamento de Química Física y Química Inorgánica
DS UVaDOC
RD 29-oct-2025