Novel Self-Supported Natural and Synthetic Polymer Membranes for Air Humidification

Bhat, SD and Manokaran, A and Sahu, AK and Pitchumani, S and Sridhar, P and Shukla, AK (2009) Novel Self-Supported Natural and Synthetic Polymer Membranes for Air Humidification. In: Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 113 (4). pp. 2605-2612.

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Abstract

Novel self-supported natural and synthetic polymer membranes of chitosan-hydroxy ethyl Cellulose-montmorillonite (CS-HEC-MMT) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) are prepared by solution casting method followed by crosslinking. These membranes are employed for air humidification at varying temperatures between 30 degrees C and 70 degrees C and their performances are compared with commercial Nafion membranes. High hater fluxes with desired humidified-air output have been achieved for CS-HEC-MMT and PVA-PSSA hybrid membranes at air-flow rates of 1-10 slpm. Variation in the air/water mixing ratio, dew point, and relative humidity that ultimately results in desired water flux With respect to air-flow rates are also quantified for all the membranes. Water flux values for CS-HEC-MMT are less than those for Nafion (R) and PVA-PSSA membranes, but the operational Stability of CS-HEC-MMT membrane is higher than PVA-PSSA and comparable with Nafion (R) both of which can operate up to 70 degrees C at repetitive cycles of humidification.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Publisher:	John Wiley
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to John Wiley.
Keywords:	water flux;hybrid membrane;sorption;PEFC
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Solid State & Structural Chemistry Unit
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2010 06:03
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:36
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/21120

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