The links between chemical properties, including those relating to molecular size, solubility,
hydrophobicity and vapour pressure, and rejection of model aromatic micro-pollutants by a
tubular, hydrophilic polymer pervaporation membrane designed for irrigation applications
was investigated. Open air experiments were conducted at room temperature for individual
solutions of fluorene, naphthalene, phenol, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,2-diethylbenzene and 2-
phenoxyethanol. Percentage rejection generally increased with increased molecular size for
the model micro-pollutants (47% - 86%). Molecular weight and logKow had the strongest
positive relationships with rejection, as demonstrated by respective correlation coefficients of
r = 0.898 and 0.824. Rejection was also strongly negatively correlated with aqueous
solubility and H-bond δ. However, properties which relate to vapour phase concentrations of
the micro-pollutants were not well correlated with rejection. Thus, physicochemical
separation processes, rather than vapour pressure, drives removal of aromatic contaminants
by the investigated pervaporation tube. This expanded knowledge could be utilised in
considering practical applications of pervaporative irrigation systems for treating organiccontaminated
waters such as oilfield produced waters.