Journal of Membrane Science, Vol.252, No.1-2, 245-252, 2005
Pervaporation of water from aqueous HI using Nafion((R))-117 membranes for the sulfur-iodine thermochemical water splitting process
Nafion((R))-117 membranes have been successfully used to remove water from aqueous hydriodic acid (HI) by pervaporation. HI feeds were concentrated from approximately 1.7 to 5 M, and permeate concentrations ranged from 10(-3) to 10(-4) M, regardless of the feed HI concentration. Temperatures examined were 22, 50, 70, and 100 degrees C. Using 180 mu m thick films, fluxes at 22 degrees C were 0.43 kg/m(2) h, and increased with increasing system temperature to a maximum of 1.5 kg/m(2) h at 100 degrees C. Durability studies over a period of 3 months operation revealed little membrane degradation and, in all cases, the membranes retained their bulk physical properties in that they remained flexible and plastic. More intensive thermomechanical testing revealed changes in the membrane morphology upon pervaporation of the HI feed at 100 C, however, these changes were not reflected in the observed water transport behavior. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:liquid separation;nation membranes;hydriodic acid;pervaporation;water separation;sulfur-iodine process