Design of PEG ‐Modified Polyethersulfone Membranes With PVA Selective Layer for Efficient Gasoline Desulfurization by Pervaporation

ABSTRACT Hydrodesulfurization is used in petroleum refineries to remove sulfur compounds from fuels; however, it requires high temperatures, high hydrogen pressures, and expensive catalysts. Refractory sulfur compounds, including thiophene and its derivatives, are also difficult to remove completely using conventional HDS. This study developed and evaluated polyethersulfone (PES)‐based membranes for membrane‐assisted fuel desulfurization. Membranes were fabricated by phase inversion using different PES/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/Span 80 compositions and characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurement, porosity analysis, and mechanical testing. FTIR confirmed the characteristic functional groups, while SEM revealed asymmetric structures with dense upper layers and porous finger‐like sublayers. PEG addition influenced pore structure, porosity, hydrophilicity, flexibility, and tensile strength. PVA coating improved membrane wettability, reducing the contact angle from 79.4° ± 1.3° for pure PES to 56.5° ± 1.4°. Pervaporation experiments using genuine gasoline at 46°C and 60°C identified the P2 membrane (18 wt% PES, 1 wt% PEG, and 1 wt% Span 80) as the best performer, achieving sulfur removal efficiencies of 68.15% and 77.75%, respectively. At 60°C, P2 exhibited a sulfur enrichment factor of 3.49 and a permeate flux of 40.61 L m −2 h −1 . In diesel‐model testing, PVA‐coated PCo1 achieved the highest enrichment factor of 6.1.