Effect of hydrogen bonding on prediction of sorption behavior of ethanol/water mixture into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymeric membrane in pervaporation process using genetic algorithm

In this study, sorption behavior of ethanol/water mixture into poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) membrane at 45˚C and 60˚C was investigated using the Gibbs free energy models namely the UNIQUAC and the UNIQUAC-HB. Prediction accuracy of these models, effects of hydrogen bonding, concentration and temperature of feed on the sorption behavior were studied. Using thermodynamic equilibrium criteria between the components in two phases, the interaction parameters of models were estimated by the genetic algorithm and the volume fractions of components were calculated. Results showed that there is a good agreement between the experimental and predicted data obtained from the UNIQUAC model with an accuracy of 4.2% at 45 °C and 4.4% at 60 °C. Addition of hydrogen bonding term in the UNIQUAC-HB model leads to better agreement between model and experimental data.