Application of a composite ultrafiltration membrane for biodiesel purification

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to investigate the potentialities of the application of membrane technology in biodiesel purification without need of the decantation step. A new composite UF membrane was prepared from poly(vinylidene fluoride) casting solution (17 wt%) containing a sulfonated Carbon (20 wt%). The assays were performed in a dead-end filtration cell with synthetic mixtures of the transesterification reaction products. The influence of two operational variables was analyzed, transmembrane pressure (∆P = 4-8 bar) and temperature (T = 50-60°C). The membrane performance was e...