Abstract
Cellulose acetate (CA) fibers were electrospun on a mesh template to create specific surface and pore structures for membrane applications. The mesh template CA fiber mats were impregnated with cellulose nanocrystals at varying weight percentages. The membranes showed nanotextured surfaces and improved mechanical properties post impregnation. More importantly, the hydrophilicity of the original CA fibers was increased from a hydrophobic contact angle of 102°–0° thereby creating an anti-fouling membrane surface structure. The membranes showed rejection of 20–56% for particles of 0.5–2.0 μm, indicating potential of these membranes in rejecting microorganisms from water. Furthermore, high rejection of dyes (80–99%) by adsorption and potential application as highly functional affinity membranes was demonstrated. These membranes can therefore be utilized as all-cellulose, green, scalable and low cost high flux membranes (> 20,000 LMH) for water cleaning applications in food industry where microorganisms and charged contaminants are to be removed.
Highlights
Membranes and membrane processes are an integral part of the food processing chain; an estimated 20–30% of the membranes used in manufacturing industries worldwide are used by the food industry (Daufin et al 2001; Inc 2004; Lipnizki 2010)
We have shown that stand-alone and biobased electrospun membranes of cellulose acetate with sufficient mechanical properties and flux for membrane as well as anti-fouling performance can be obtained via impregnation using chitin nanocrystals (Goetz et al 2016)
Cellulose nanocrystals were successfully infused on to the electrospun cellulose acetate fiber networks resulting in highly efficient surface treatment approach to prepare biobased membranes that combine size exclusion, adsorption and super hydrophilicity
Summary
Membranes and membrane processes are an integral part of the food processing chain; an estimated 20–30% of the membranes used in manufacturing industries worldwide are used by the food industry (Daufin et al 2001; Inc 2004; Lipnizki 2010). We have shown that stand-alone and biobased electrospun membranes of cellulose acetate with sufficient mechanical properties and flux for membrane as well as anti-fouling performance can be obtained via impregnation using chitin nanocrystals (Goetz et al 2016).
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