Abstract
Chitosan (CS) nanocomposite mesoporous membranes were fabricated by mixing CS with graphene (G) and fullerene (F) nanofillers, and the diffusion properties through CS membranes were studied. In addition, in order to enhance the binding between the internal CS chains, physical cross-linking of CS by sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) was carried out. F and G with different weight percentages (0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt.%) were added on physically cross-linked chitosan (CLCS) and non-cross-linked chitosan (NCLCS) membranes by wet mixing. Permeability and diffusion time of CLCS and NCLCS membranes at different temperatures were investigated. The results revealed that the pore size of all fabricated CS membranes is in the mesoporous range (i.e., 2–50 nm). Moreover, the addition of G and F nanofillers to CLCS and NCLCS solutions aided in controlling the CS membranes’ pore size and was found to enhance the barrier effect of the CS membranes either by blocking the internal pores or decreasing the pore size. These results illustrate the significant possibility of controlling the pore size of CS membranes by cross-linking and more importantly the careful selection of nanofillers and their percentage within the CS membranes. Controlling the pore size of CS membranes is a fundamental factor in packaging applications and membrane technology.
Highlights
Particle pollution, known as particulate matter (PM), includes the very fine dust, soot, smoke, and droplets that are formed from chemical reactions and produced when fuels such as coal, wood, or oil are burned
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists and other health experts are concerned about particle pollution because very small or “fine” particles can get deep into the lungs
The main challenge behind manufacturing these novel CS nanocomposites mesoporous membranes lies in controlling their pore size to achieve precise separation capabilities of pollutants in order to decrease the amount of pollution
Summary
Known as particulate matter (PM), includes the very fine dust, soot, smoke, and droplets that are formed from chemical reactions and produced when fuels such as coal, wood, or oil are burned. LDPE membranes on the other hand, were reported to have pore sizes in the range of 40– 70 nm with a yield tensile strength of 65 MPa [6]. Fullerenes form a wide variety of donor-acceptor complexes with different classes of organic donors These complexes show a wide range of mechanical and physical properties that have tremendous potential as building blocks for new nanocomposite materials [19]. Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) membranes are the future for the global packaging industry This is due to the presence of nanofillers in the polymer matrix materials which improve the packaging properties of the polymer nanocomposite membranes such as flexibility, gas barrier, temperature/moisture stability, thermal stability, recyclability, dimensional stability, heat resistance, and optical clarity. Improved barrier properties from nanofillers would be expected from the increased lengths of diffusion paths [20]
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