Use of Bacterial Cellulose from Nata de Coco as Base Polymer for Liquid Membranes Containing Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose is becoming a promising biopolymer for membrane separation due to its biocompatibility. We prepared bacterial cellulose membranes from nata de coco, an indigenous dessert of the Philippines, as a support or a base polymer in the liquid membrane process. When we prepared bacterial cellulose membranes in the presence of Aliquat 336 as an ionic liquid, we obtained stable bacterial cellulose membranes. We carried out two different permeation experiments on lactate and organic nitrogen compounds. In the case of lactate permeation, the lactate remained in the membrane phase due to the strong interaction between the cellulose and the lactate by hydrogen bonding. For organic nitrogen compounds without strong hydrogen bonding moieties, quinoline and pyridine successfully permeated through the membranes. Higher selectivity against heptane was observed than previously reported results. The bacterial membranes from nata de coco containing Aliquat 336 were found to be promising for the separation of organic nitrogen compounds.