By employing solution technique, a modified PSSAMA crosslinked chitosan membranes were synthesized by incorporated copper nanoparticles to increase the hydrophilicity in membrane matrix. These membranes were characterized by FTIR, WAXD, TGA and SEM Studies. Membranes were tested for their ability to separate isopropyl alcohol / water at azeotropic point. The experiment results demonstrated that the membrane containing 1 wt% of nanoparticle showed highest separation selectivity of 56102 with a flux of 19.57×10⁻² kg/m² h for the azeotropic mixture at 30 ᵒC. The membranes were further tested for pervaporation at 40, 50 and 60 ᵒC for water containing feeds of aqueous isopropyl alcohol solution to confirm their stability at higher temperature. The total flux and the flux of water were found to be overlapping each other for all modified membranes, suggesting that these membranes could be used effectively to break the azeotropic point. From the temperature dependency of diffusion and permeation values, the Arrhenius activation parameters were estimated and discussed in terms of membrane efficiency. The CuO nanoparticles acted in increase in porosity that enhance hydrophilic property of the membrane. Total flux and flux of water were overlapping each other in membranes. The EP and ED values for water-iso propyl alcohol mixtures ranged between 10.42 to14.69 and 12.07 to16.70 kJ/mol.

Keywords: CuO Nanoparticles; PSSMA; Pervaporation; Chitosan;