The word pervaporation is spelled as /pɜːvæpəreɪʃən/. The initial "per-" is pronounced with a short "e" sound, followed by a "v" sound and then "ap" which is pronounced with a short "a." The rest of the word includes a long "a" sound, followed by a "sh" sound and ending with "-ən" pronounced with a schwa vowel sound. Pervaporation is a process of separating liquid mixtures and its spelling is derived from the words "permeate" and "evaporate."
Pervaporation is a process that involves the separation and purification of liquid mixtures, typically involving a feed liquid and a permeate gas or vapor, by selective permeation through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only specific molecules or components to pass through, effectively separating them from the rest of the mixture.
The process of pervaporation takes advantage of the differences in the vapor pressures and affinities of the different components in the liquid mixture. The feed liquid is brought into contact with one side of the membrane, and an external vacuum or low-pressure condition is applied on the other side. As the liquid mixture comes into contact with the membrane, the components with higher vapor pressures preferentially evaporate and are pulled through the membrane, leaving behind the components with lower vapor pressures.
Pervaporation offers several advantages over other separation techniques. It can be used for separating volatile organic compounds, water, and other liquids from a mixture, and it can operate at relatively low temperatures and pressures. The process is particularly useful for separating azeotropic mixtures, where traditional distillation methods are inefficient.
Applications of pervaporation include the purification of organic solvents, the dehydration of alcohol and biofuel production, the removal of volatile organic compounds from industrial waste streams, and the separation of water from organic solvents. Overall, pervaporation is an effective and energy-efficient technique in various industries for separating liquid mixtures based on their selective permeation through a semi-permeable membrane.
The word "pervaporation" is a combination of two terms: "permeation" and "evaporation".
The term "permeation" refers to the process of a substance passing through a barrier or membrane, typically referring to the movement of molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
The term "evaporation" refers to the process of a liquid turning into vapor, typically due to heat or the lowering of pressure.
In the case of pervaporation, it describes a specific membrane separation process where a liquid mixture is placed in contact with a membrane, and a pressure difference is applied across the membrane. The process allows certain components of the liquid mixture to preferentially permeate through the membrane, while the rest evaporates. Hence, the term "pervaporation" encompasses both the concepts of permeation and evaporation in membrane separation processes.