In the present study, novel biodegradable nanocomposite membranes were prepared by adding the amino functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (NH2‐MWCNT) to the chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol blend polymers, and the obtained membranes were used for dehydration of isopropyl alcohol through pervaporation process. For this purpose, the membranes were prepared with chitosan/ polyvinyl alcohol ratio of 4:1 on the basis of “solution casting” method and then crosslinked using glutaraldehyde, after addition of different amounts of NH2‐MWCNT. The prepared membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, contact angle, mechanical strength, degree of swelling (DS), and biodegradability. Also, the ability of the prepared membranes in dehydration of isopropyl alcohol was determined using pervaporation experiments. Results indicated that contact angle, mechanical resistance, separation factor (α), and pervaporation separation index were increased with the addition of NH2‐MWCNT up to 10 wt% (relative to the total amount of polymer) and then decreased in the higher presence of nanotubes (15 wt%). Furthermore, the DS and permeate flux were first decreased and then increased for the same mentioned amounts of additive. In this study, optimized membrane was obtained by the addition of 10 wt% NH2‐MWCNT. This membrane showed the maximum α (99.5), pervaporation separation index parameter (78.29 kg m−2 h−1), biodegradability, and mechanical stability as well as minimum DS.

Keywords