Separation of Fluids by Nonporous Membranes

This book summarizes results and also the potential of separation of fluids through nonporous membranes. Two membranes separation techniques are involved, namely the pervaporation and the gas or vapor separation. Special attention is focused on ionic liquids. The ionic liquids can act as a separation medium in the form of supported ionic liquid membranes or selective components of a mixed membrane matrix. Moreover, the ionic liquid can successfully be used as a new class of solvent for chemical reactions. Their main advantage in downstream separation processes is negligible vapor pressure at normal conditions and temperature stability, which is the reason why they are often called the green solvents. Nowadays separations of various gaseous and organic vapors from air have been within the gradually growing interest of many companies and research teams. However, ionic liquids are still much more expensive than classical solvents, which hindered their practical application in full-scale processes. Therefore, the end of this DSc thesis focuses on water as a separation medium in the commercially available hydrophilic reverse osmosis membrane.