Abstract
A new mixed matrix membrane (MMM) incorporating sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) and sulfonated crosslinked chitosan (SCCS) as a superior hydrophilic filler was synthesized and applied as a catalytic pervaporation membrane reactor (PMR) for the esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. The optimal conditions for esterification over SPES-SCCS were preliminarily studied using a batch reactor (BR). The synthesis of ethyl acetate was studied in the PMR based on experimental findings of BR esterification. The pervaporative separation of water in the PMR gave it better catalytic performance than the BR. More importantly, the newly developed PMR is permselective towards the ethyl acetate product.
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•Sulfonated polyethersulfone/crosslinked chitosan (SPES/SCCS) were successfully prepared.•SPES and SCCS were integrated to fabricate a new mixed matrix membrane (MMM).•The performance of SPES-SCCS in a batch reactor (BR) was used to determine its optimum conditions.•The composite (SPES-SCCS) displayed amazing catalytic activity in esterification process.•SPES-SCCS exhibits excellent reusability (up to five catalytic runs).