PV · Technology
Pervaporation
Pervaporation separates miscible liquid mixtures by selective sorption and diffusion through a dense polymeric membrane. Unlike distillation, it ignores boiling points; the separation is driven by chemistry, not temperature. That lets it break azeotropes such as ethanol/water at 95.6%, which distillation alone cannot, and recover solvents from water.
What it solves
Performance you can size against.
What the process delivers. Every number is testable on your own feed.
- Solvent purity
- 99.5 wt%
- In most applications, per Petro Sep's AZEO-SEP® data.
- Azeotropes broken
- Including ethanol/water (95.6% azeotrope) and IPA/water.
How it works
The working principle.
A liquid feed contacts a dense polymeric membrane. The target component (water, or a specific organic) sorbs into the membrane, diffuses through, and evaporates on the permeate side, where a vacuum or sweep gas keeps the driving gradient steep. The permeate condenses as a separate phase; in continuous units, inter-stage heaters resupply the heat of vaporization. The retentate continues through the system at progressively higher purity.
Performance envelope
Specs and operating range.
For preliminary sizing only. Production sizing is always validated against your specific feed.
- Permeate purity (water from solvent)
- >99.5wt%
- Solvent purity at retentate
- 99.5wt%In most applications (AZEO-SEP®).
- Operating temperature
- 75 to 85°CAZEO-SEP® range. The feed stays liquid; the permeate evaporates, with inter-stage heaters supplying the heat.
- Max operating pressure
- 200kPaAZEO-SEP® and VOC-SEP®.
How we compare
PV vs the alternatives.
Where Pervaporation wins, where it does not, and where the alternatives are honestly the better fit.
| Trait | Pervaporation | Azeotropic Distillation | Molecular Sieves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaks azeotropes | Yes, by chemistry not boiling point | Yes, requires entrainer (benzene, cyclohexane) | Yes, for low water content only |
| Final purity ceiling | 99.5 wt% in most applications (AZEO-SEP®) | >99.5 wt% with entrainer recycle | Limited by adsorbent regeneration |
| Energy | Low; only the permeate is vaporized, with heat supplied by inter-stage heaters | High; multi-column with entrainer recycle | High during regeneration |
| Footprint | Compact skid | Large column train + entrainer system | Twin-bed system with regeneration loop |
| Best fit | Solvent dehydration, azeotrope breaking, pharmaceutical and chemical solvent recovery | Very high volume, established plants | Final polish from <1% water content |
Breaks azeotropes
Pervaporation
Yes, by chemistry not boiling point
Azeotropic Distillation
Yes, requires entrainer (benzene, cyclohexane)
Molecular Sieves
Yes, for low water content only
Final purity ceiling
Pervaporation
99.5 wt% in most applications (AZEO-SEP®)
Azeotropic Distillation
>99.5 wt% with entrainer recycle
Molecular Sieves
Limited by adsorbent regeneration
Energy
Pervaporation
Low; only the permeate is vaporized, with heat supplied by inter-stage heaters
Azeotropic Distillation
High; multi-column with entrainer recycle
Molecular Sieves
High during regeneration
Footprint
Pervaporation
Compact skid
Azeotropic Distillation
Large column train + entrainer system
Molecular Sieves
Twin-bed system with regeneration loop
Best fit
Pervaporation
Solvent dehydration, azeotrope breaking, pharmaceutical and chemical solvent recovery
Azeotropic Distillation
Very high volume, established plants
Molecular Sieves
Final polish from <1% water content
Where this technology applies
Industries that use this process.
Pervaporation fits some sectors better than others.
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
Sanitary fabrication and patented solvent recovery for pharmaceutical and life-sciences plants.
Learn more
Industrial Manufacturing & Environmental
Process equipment, packaged plants, and patented recovery for manufacturing, water reuse, and emissions control.
Learn more
Oil, Gas & Energy
Process equipment, packaged plants, and patented separation for upstream, midstream, downstream, and energy.
Learn more
Engineering FAQ
Questions engineers ask.
The questions we hear weekly. If you have a different one, send it with your consultation request and we will answer it directly.
What solvents can pervaporation handle?
Why pervaporation over distillation?
Is pervaporation used in pharmaceutical plants?
What about water content above 50%?
Membrane life expectancy?
Have a feed that PV
might fit?
We will pilot before we promise. Send us a sample and a target outcome. If the technology fits, we will tell you what to expect; if it does not, we will tell you that too.