Abstract
The current study addresses the pressing issue of unsustainable water management, particularly in regions experiencing high water stress. It focuses on examining the viability of polymeric membranes composed of biobased materials, mainly chitosan, for various sustainable water management solutions. The membranes evaluated in the study were blends of PVC with either chitosan-silica or charcoal-silica, designed to enhance their functionality and performance. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to analyze the fiber morphologies of the different membrane compositions. All tested membranes demonstrated robust mechanical properties. Notably, the PVC-Chitosan-Silica (8:2:4) membrane also showed good mechanical properties, combined with superior thermal stability. It excelled in functional tests, achieving water capture efficiencies up to 1.2ml/g and lead removal rates as high as 92%. Furthermore, this membrane displayed a lower mass loss at elevated temperatures, suggesting enhanced durability under thermal stress. These results underline the effective combination of chitosan and silica in improving the mechanical strength and thermal stability of polymeric membranes, making the PVC-Chitosan-Silica (8:2:4) particularly effective for advanced water management applications. The study illustrates the unique capabilities of chitosan and silica, advocating for their further exploration and optimization in future sustainable water treatment technologies, which could potentially lead to groundbreaking advancements in the field.
Published Version
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