Author(s)

Edidiong Okon, Habiba Shehu, Ngozi Nwogu, Mohammed Kajama, Ifeyinwa Orakwe, Edward Gobina^*

Center for Process Integration and Membrane Technology (CPIMT), School of Engineering, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK.

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.

Esterification, Resin Characterisation, Transport Mechanism, Ethyl Lactate and Permeability

Okon, E. , Shehu, H. , Nwogu, N. , Kajama, M. , Orakwe, I. and Gobina, E. (2015) Resin Characterization and Tubular Membrane Transport with Single Gases for Ethyl Lactate Separations for Industrial Purposes. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 3, 8-14. doi: 10.4236/msce.2015.39002.