Enhancing the Separation Performance of Chitosan Membranes Through the Blending with Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Pervaporation of Polar/Non-Polar Organic Mixtures

This study explores the development of chitosan-based membranes blended with three distinct deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the pervaporation separation of methanol and methyl tert-butyl ether. DESs were selected for their eco-friendly properties and their potential to enhance membrane performance. The chitosan (CS) membranes, both crosslinked and non-crosslinked, were characterized in terms of morphology, chemical composition, wettability, mechanical resistance, and solvent uptake. Pervaporation tests revealed that incorporating DESs significantly enhanced the membranes’ selective permeability toward methanol, with up to a threefold increase in separation efficiency compared to pristine CS membranes. The membranes demonstrated a strong dependence on feed temperature, with higher temperatures improving permeation flux but reducing separation factor. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyde further increased membrane selectivity by reducing free volume into the polymer matrix. These findings underscore the potential of DESs as green additives for improving the performance of biopolymer membranes, making them promising candidates for efficient and eco-friendly organic–organic separations.