TITLE:
Resin Characterization and Tubular Membrane Transport with Single Gases for Ethyl Lactate Separations for Industrial Purposes
AUTHORS:
Edidiong Okon, Habiba Shehu, Ngozi Nwogu, Mohammed Kajama, Ifeyinwa Orakwe, Edward Gobina
KEYWORDS:
Esterification, Resin Characterisation, Transport Mechanism, Ethyl Lactate and Permeability
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.3 No.9,
September
8,
2015
ABSTRACT: The dip-coating method has been used to prepare silica membrane. The gas flow rate relationship
with the gauge pressure showed a Knudsen type of mechanism of gas transport. The flux was
found to decrease with respect to temperature indicating non-activation mechanism of transport
through the membrane. The order of the gas kinetic diameter with respect to the gas flow rate was
He > Ar > CO2 > N2 confirming a molecular sieving mechanism of gas transport. The characterisation
of the resin catalysts was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM
morphology of the Amberlyst 16 resin catalysts showed a defect-free surface before esterification
process. Amberlyst 15 catalyst exhibited some defect on the surface indicating a lower resistance
to lactic acid and decomposition at higher temperature after the esterification process at 60°C. The
order of the gas viscosity with respect to the gas flux was N2 > Ar > CO2 > He.