Biopolymers Cellulose Research Articles

Chemical and Resistive Switching Properties of Elaeodendron buchananii Extract-Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite: A Potential Active Layer for Biodegradable Memory Devices.

Biodegradable electronic devices play a crucial role in addressing the escalating issue of electronic waste accumulation, which poses significant environmental threats. In this study, we explore the utilization of a methanol-based extract of the Elaeodendron buchananii plant blended with a carboxymethyl cellulose biopolymer to produce a biodegradable and environmentally friendly functional material for a resistive switching memory system using silver and tungsten electrodes. Our analyses revealed that these two materials chemically interact to generate a perfect composite with near semiconducting optical bandgap (4.01 eV). The resultant device exhibits O-type memory behavior, with a low ON/OFF ratio, strong endurance (≥103 write/erase cycles), and satisfactory (≥103) data retention. Furthermore, through a comprehensive transport mechanism analysis, we observed the formation of traps in the composite that significantly improved conduction in the device. In addition, we established that altering the voltage amplitude modifies the concentration of traps, leading to voltage amplitude-driven multiple resistance states. Overall, our findings underscore the potential of functionalizing polymers that can be functionalized by incorporating plant extracts, resulting in biodegradable and nonvolatile memory devices with promising performance metrics.

Cellulose acetate-based polymer electrolyte for energy storage application with the influence of BaTiO3 nanofillers on the electrochemical properties: A progression in biopolymer-EDLC technology

The bio-based solid polymer electrolyte serves as a promising choice for the next generation of energy storage devices to meet the requirement of green chemistry. In the current research, a green plasticized magnesium ion-conducting biopolymer electrolyte was developed using simple solution casting method for Electric Double Layer Capacitors (EDLC) applications. The biopolymer Cellulose Acetate (CA) as the host polymer, with varying concentrations of BaTiO3 as the nanofiller, Mg(CF3SO3)2 as the ionic dopant, and PEG as the plasticizer. A 2 wt% addition of BaTiO3 to the biopolymer electrolyte exhibits maximum conductivity measuring 2.4 × 10−3 S/cm. Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) analysis demonstrates maximum stability voltage of 3.51 V. The ionic transference number (tion) and (tMg2+) were determined to be 0.99 and 0.41 respectively. The fabricated EDLC device with the same electrolyte showed polarisation curve without any noticeable peaks in the Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) plot, indicating no redox reactions occurring at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Galvanostatic Charge Discharge (GCD) results showed excellent coulombic efficiency, stability and Energy Density and Power Density performance over 2000 cycles. The incorporation of BaTiO3 into biopolymer membranes presents a viable approach towards sustainable energy storage solutions by enhancing the energy storage capacity of EDLC devices.

The presence of nanoparticles in aqueous droplets containing plant-derived biopolymers plays a role in heterogeneous ice nucleation.

Organic matter can initiate heterogeneous ice nucleation in supercooled water droplets, thereby influencing atmospheric cloud glaciation. Predicting the ice nucleation ability of organic matter-containing cloud droplets is challenging due to the unknown mechanism for templating ice. Here, we observed the presence of nanoparticles in aqueous samples of known ice-nucleating biopolymers cellulose and lignin, as well as in newly identified ice-nucleating biopolymers xylan and laminarin. Using our drop Freezing Ice Nuclei Counter (FINC), we measured the median ice nucleation temperature (T50) of xylan and of laminarin droplets of 2 μl to be -14.2 and -20.0 °C, respectively. Next, we characterized these samples using nanoparticle tracking analysis, and we detected and quantified nanoparticles with mean diameters between 132 and 267nm. Xylan contained the largest nanoparticles and froze at higher temperatures. Xylan also dictated the freezing in a 1:1:1:1 mixture with cellulose, lignin, laminarin, and xylan. Filtration experiments down to 300 kDa with the xylan sample indicated that the presence of nanoparticles triggered freezing. Overall, only samples with mean diameters above 150nm froze above -20 °C. Furthermore, we determined the ice-active site densities normalized to particle concentrations, surface area, and mass of the nanoparticles to show that the samples' nucleation site densities are similar to sea spray aerosols and nanometer-sized dust. The identification and characterization of xylan and laminarin as nanometer-sized ice-nucleating substances expands the growing list of organic matter capable of impacting cloud formation and thus climate.

Molecular engineering of renewable cellulose biopolymers for solid-state battery electrolytes

Molecular engineering of renewable cellulose biopolymers for solid-state battery electrolytes

Eco-friendly fabrication of novel hydrophobic CMC–C18@MWCNTs nano-sorbent for fat content removal in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fatty-food samples

In this study, carbon nanohybrids was developed by hybridizing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) biopolymer with various amounts of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs: 0.2, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5%) in eco-friendly process to produce hydrophobic CMC–C18@MWCNTs, which was then used as a sorbent material for fat content in fatty food samples analysis. The hydrophobic biopolymers were synthesized using an ultrasound-assisted esterification process, and the physicochemical properties were analyzed using FT-IR, XRD, TGA, FE-SEM, and TEM. The performance of the hydrophobic nanocomposites was evaluated by assessing their ability to remove fat content during polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) analysis in tuna samples. The results showed that CMC–C18–CNT0.2% provided the best peak shapes and highest recoveries for PAHs compounds, ranging between 74.3 and 89.7%, while CMC–C18–CNT5% had the lowest recoveries, ranging between 0 and 35%. Therefore, the lowest amount of MWCNTs was found to be the most efficient for removing fat content with providing high PAHs recovery, while increasing the MWCNTs percentage increased the hydrophobicity and removed PAHs analytes along with fat content. After the investigation, the method was validated using CMC–C18–CNT0.2% in three various levels: 2, 5 and 10 μg kg−1. The obtained results were satisfactory; the average recoveries for all PAHs compounds ranged between 74.3 to 89.7%, and the intra-day precision were estimated by coefficient of variation (%CV), where were less than 10% for all PAHs. The LOD and LOQ were lies between 0.33 to 0.89 μg kg−1 and 1.12 to 1.92 μg kg−1 respectively. For the calibration curve linearity, the correlation coefficient (r2) were higher than 0.999 for all PAHs. Overall, the hydrophobic CMC–C18@MWCNTs are a promising, modifiable, and useful material for fatty food analysis.

Effect of Delignification Method on the type of Cellulose Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) as a Material for Sustainable Sodium-Ion Battery Technology

Abstract Biopolymers developed for solid electrolyte materials of sodium-ion batteries are of great interest these days. The main precursor in the form of cellulose biopolymers has been successfully isolated from water hyacinths (Eichornia crassipes). The first stage is maceration using 2% NaOH to produce cellulose-Iα and Ethanol 60% to produce cellulose-Iβ by hydrothermal reaction process at 150 °C and continued at the bleaching stage with H2O2 solution at 50 °C until it changes color. Then the sample is washed to a neutral pH and dried in an oven at 60 °C. Cellulose-Iα yields were obtained with a yield of 33.98% and cellulose-Iβ of 39.11%. The cellulose-I that has been obtained is modified to obtain cellulose-II type by mercerization method, where cellulose-I type is reacted with 20% NaOH for 5 hours. The mixture is then washed to neutral and dried. Cellulose-II yield was obtained with a yield of 69.21%. Samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The cellulose content of hyacinths before delignification was 36.69%. The cellulose content of hyacinths after delignification for cellulose-Iα and cellulose-Iβ types was 64.26% and 48.58% respectively. FTIR analysis proved the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups in hyacinth cellulose. XRD analysis showed that all three samples were identified with cellulose-Iα, cellulose-Iβ, and cellulose-II amorphous structures with a crystallinity index of 28.62% and the largest crystallite size based on the hkl field (121) of cellulose-Iβ type samples was ~10 nm. SEM analysis shows that cellulose-Iα, cellulose-Iβ has a slim fiber diameter size and straight, smooth surface and microfibrils around the fiber. While cellulose-II shows visualization of a diameter that looks larger and twisted, the surface is rough and there are no microfibrils around the fibers.

Ultrasonic-induced grafted lanthanum sulfide decorated multi-walled carbon nanotube onto bacterial cellulose applied for adsorption of pesticides in environmental waters

A new biosorbent was fabricated by modification of bacterial cellulose biopolymer grafted with lanthanum sulfide decorated carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotube (La2S3@MWCNT@BC). The sorbent was employed in a green alternative dispersive-solid phase extraction of a variety of 14 pesticides in environmental water samples. The analyses were performed using GC-µECD. The properties and structure of La2S3@MWCNT@BC nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and adsorption-desorption isotherms. The composition of the sorbent was also investigated to evaluate the adsorptive properties of its constituents. The impact of various parameters influencing extraction efficacies such as sorbent dose, adsorption time, sample pH, ionic strength, and desorption conditions was investigated. The method was validated by specificity, matrix effect % (-0.4 to -7.4), enrichment factor (4–10), limits of quantification (0.007–0.31 μg L−1), matrix-matched calibration linearity (0.01–200 µg L−1), determination coefficients (r2=0.9921–0.9998), and precision. The optimized method was applied for the analysis of multiclass pesticides in seven environmental and drinking waters and the recoveries were obtained in the 81–108 % range with RSDs of 2.5–4.7 %. This paper is the first report on the synthesis and use of La2S3@MWCNT@BC nanocomposite to extract pesticides from different water samples. The greenness of the procedure was evaluated by the AGREE protocols.

Characterisation of microcrystalline cellulose from waste green pea pod sheath and its sunn hemp fibre‐polyester composite: A step towards greener manufacturing

AbstractIn this study, a microcrystalline cellulosic biopolymer (MCB) made from Pisum Sativum (green pea) pod waste via a modified thermo‐chemical process, and Crotalaria juncea (sunn hemp) fibre was used to create environment‐friendly polyester composites. The main objective was to synthesise the MCB from domestic waste and characterize how the addition of hemp alters the strength of the polymeric composite. The MCB was synthesized using green pea pods. The sunn hemp fibres were used in mat form in this study. The composites were made using the hand layup method and post‐cured at 110°C for 2 h. The results showed that the addition of sunn hemp fibre and MCB increased the mechanical properties. Similarly, the highest observed fatigue life count for the composite designated PSC3 (2.0 vol.% MCB) was 30862 at 30% ultimate tensile stress. Similarly, the composite PSC3 had the maximum penetration resistance with an absorbed energy of 14.2 J. Moreover, the addition of silane‐treated cellulose and fibre provided an improved storage modulus of 6.8 GPa for the PSC3 composite, confirming the improved fibre‐matrix fibre interaction and increased toughness. The scanning electron microscope images revealed improved fibre‐matrix correlation. These eco‐friendly composites with better load‐bearing capabilities could be preferred in automated door panels, defence toolboxes, and home interior decoration applications.

Optimization of methyl cellulose biopolymer electrolyte conductivity via response surface methodology

Optimization conductivity of methyl cellulose (MC) / ammonium triflate (NH4 CF3 SO3) / 1–butyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis (trifluoro sulfonyl) imide (BMIMTFSI) biopolymer electrolyte was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on faced centred central composite design (FCCCD). This software was used to evaluate two different parameters simultaneously, which are the weightage of NH4CF3SO3 salt (40 – 50 w.t%) and BMIMTFSI ionic liquid (1 – 50 w.t%). Analysis of variance was used to verify the experiment data by using quadratic model. The value of R2 for this model was found to be 0.933526, hence showed that the model is significant. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to calculate the conductivity (1.26 ×10−3 Scm−1) for 45 wt% NH4CF3SO3 salt and 30.7 w.t% BMIMTFSI ionic liquid and was found comparable to the predicted conductivity value (1.28 ×10−3 Scm−1). The differences between these two values are less than 10%. Statistical observation from ANOVA analysis showed that, the weightage of NH4CF3SO3 salt and BMIMTFSI ionic liquid have significant effect to the conductivity of MC/NH4CF3SO3 / BMIMTFSI biopolymer electrolyte.

Thermal and biological properties of novel sodium carboxymethylcellulose-PPFMA nanocomposites containing biosynthesized Ag-ZnO hybrid filler

The aim of this study was to produce new nanocomposites with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties that can be used in biomedical research based on carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) biopolymer. First, poly(2-oxo-2-(pentafluorophenoxy)ethyl-2-methylprop-2-enoate) (PPFMA) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR and NMR techniques. It was then blended with NaCMC by in situ/hydrothermal method to produce a semi-synthetic functional material. Changes in the FTIR data of the blend and the single Tg value from DSC confirmed the compatibility of the blend. To enhance the thermal and biological properties of the NaCMC-PPFMA blend, biosynthesized Ag-ZnONPs were hydrothermally incorporated into the blend at different weight ratios. The prepared materials were characterized by SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD and FTIR. The thermal stability of the materials was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and glass transition temperatures (Tg) was determined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The oxidant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of PPFMA, Ag-ZnONPs, PPFMA-NaCMC blend, and nanocomposites were investigated in detail. The total oxidant state (TOS) value of the NaCMC-PPFMA blend, which was 0.72 μmol equivalent H2O2/L, increased to 7.2–10.4 μmol equivalent H2O2/L with the addition of Ag-ZnONPs. Ag-ZnONPs decreased total antioxidant state (TAS) levels of the nanocomposites while increasing their oxidant activity. Therefore, an increase in the antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites was observed. Adding Ag-ZnONPs to the NaCMC-PPFMA blend increased the thermal stability by 22 °C and the Tg value by 9 °C. Finally, the potential of Ag-ZnONPs containing nanocomposites in wound healing therapies was examined. The findings suggest that nanocomposites prepared by incorporating Ag-ZnONPs into the semi-synthetic NaCMC-PPFMA blend can be a source of bio-safe raw materials and can be used as potential wound healers.

Optimation of Green Synthesis Biopolymer Cellulose Using Acetobacter xylinum From Whey as Media of Bacteria

Utilizing waste into a more valuable commodity was one of the objectives of that research. Waste which initially became an environmental pollutant factor could be processed into more useful products. Tofu liquid waste was referred to whey was a by-product of tofu production. Whey was waste that still contains organic materials such as protein, fat, carbohydrates and minerals. That whey was used as a growth medium for Acetobacter xylinum bacteria and produces cellulose biopolymer as a result of carbohydrate fermentation. The process of optimizing carbohydrate fermentation by Acetobacter xylinum bacteria was carried out by varying the ratio of the amount of whey to coconut water, the acidity level of the media, and the fermentation time. The research results showed that the biosynthesis of cellulose biopolymer was obtained from a ratio of whey concentration to coconut water of 1:1, variations in acidity levels showed that the optimum fermentation conditions occurred at pH 4, and the optimal amount of cellulose biopolymer was obtained on day 21, namely with the highest percent yield value. The resulting biocellulose was characterized using FTIR, XRD, and SEM. The characterization results show that biocellulose is well formed with a fiber surface shape and particle size in the range of 50-200 nm

A Density Functional Theory Study on the Interaction of Cellulose Biopolymer and Atomic Arsenic

Here we provide a description of arsenic (As) adsorption on the cellulose biopolymer using first-principles density functional theory. In all studied configurations, the process of As adsorption on the cellulose is an exothermic process indicated by the negative binding energy. The cellulose's hydroxyl and hydroxymethyl groups significantly interact with As atom, characterized by the binding energy. In all optimized configurations, the interactions are mainly described as chemical bonding. This claim is supported by the overlap of the electron localization function (ELF) in the interface of As and cellulose in all studied adsorption sites. The adsorption of As on the cellulose introduces new states in the vicinity of the Fermi energy, leading to the lower bandgap of the cellulose-As systems. Overall, these results imply that the As atom can be trapped and detected using cellulose-based material. These findings offer an explanation of earlier research works on cellulose-As systems. This work will also serve as a reference for fabricating cellulose-based material for sensing and removing As.

Diethylaminoethyl cellulose and quaternary ammonium cellulose matrices as adsorbent materials for potentially toxic CrO42−, Cr2O72−, SeO32− and SeO42− anions: A theoretical study

The present study theoretically analysis the adsorptive capacities of diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DMC) and quaternary ammonium cellulose (QC) biopolymer matrices toward CrO42−, Cr2O72−, SeO32−, and SeO42− at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)/LANL2DZ level of theory. The locations of possible sites of interaction between structures were verified using molecular electrostatic potentials, which revealed that these matrices have quaternary nitrogen atoms that are partially positively charged and can interact with Se and Cr anions. The frontier molecular orbitals show that interactions between chemical species are possible, while structural data reveal that interactions occur through hydrogen bonds that are 1.574–3.263 Å long. The calculated energies associated with these processes, namely interaction (ΔEint) and Gibbs (ΔG) energies as well as the enthalpy (ΔH) are all negative, demonstrating that the anions interact spontaneously with the matrices and release heat. Topological analysis revealed that almost all interactions are weak (∇2(r) > 0 ua and H > 0 ua). Non-covalent-interaction and reduced-density-gradient plots show that the weak interactions are mostly van der Waals in nature with some hydrogen bonds. These theoretical results show that the QC and DMC matrices are good materials for adsorbing CrO42−, Cr2O72−, SeO32−, and SeO42− and can be used to remediate these contaminants.

Ethyl cellulose-based microcapsules of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle essential oil with an optimized emulsifier for antibacterial cosmetotextiles

Antibacterial microcapsules of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle essential oil (LOs) covered by ethyl cellulose biopolymer were prepared and applied to cotton fabric. The microencapsulation of the LOs was accomplished through a simple coacervation process, whereas the immobilization onto the cotton fabric was based on the pad dry method with citric acid as a binder. Optimization of the type and weight of the emulsifier was considered to result in the best properties of the microcapsules. Employing 1 g of tween-80, the best LO microcapsules were successfully obtained up to 46.7 ± 3.8% yield, with spherical morphology and a well-distributed size range of 0.5–2 μm. The oil content (OC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the microcapsules were achieved at 95.4 ± 0.8% and 77.9 ± 6.6% correspondingly. According to Avrami's kinetic model, the release performance of the LOs microcapsules in 2 h was ruled by the first-order kinetic mechanism with the remaining LOs of 37.7%. The LO microcapsules were successfully immobilized onto cotton fabric with a % add-on of 20.1%. Upon a standard washing test, the attached LOs microcapsules demonstrated 5 cycles of resistance against normal washing, with a mass reduction of the microcapsules up to 52.2%. Further antibacterial assays showed that the cotton fabrics immobilized by the LOs microcapsules exhibited a high inhibition, especially towards Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Thus, it can be potentially developed for antibacterial functional textile.

First-Principles Insights on the Bonding Mechanism and Electronic Structure of SWCNT and Oxygenated-SWCNT Functionalized by Cellulose Biopolymer

Here, we report the bonding mechanism and electronic structure of single-walled carbon nanotube and oxygenated single-walled carbon nanotube functionalized by cellulose chain using first-principles density functional theory. Analysis of the optimized molecular configuration and charge redistribution of the nanohybrid indicates that the cellulose chain binds with the prototype single-walled carbon nanotube and oxygenated single-walled carbon nanotube via physisorption. The cellulose chain adsorption on the single-walled carbon nanotube preserved its electronic structure. On the other hand, the electronic structure of the oxygenated single-walled carbon nanotube and cellulose complex reveals that the electronic states of the cellulose tend to populate in the forbidden gap, thus, lowering the bandgap of the overall complex. The electronic structure of the complex can be considered as the superposition of its constituents in which no significant hybridization of the orbital characters is observable. The findings confirm that cellulose is indeed suitable for the non-covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes and provide new insights into the electronic structure of the oxygenated single-walled carbon nanotube/cellulose complex.

Synergistic stabilization of emulsion gel by nanoparticles and surfactant enables 3D printing of lipid-rich solid oral dosage forms

Pharmaceutical formulation of oral dosage forms is continuously challenged by the low solubility of new drug candidates. Pickering emulsions, emulsions stabilized with solid particles, are a promising alternative to surfactants for developing long-term stable emulsions that can be tailored for controlled release of lipophilic drugs. In this work, a non-emulsifying lipid-based formulation (LBF) loaded with fenofibrate was formulated into an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion synergistically stabilized by stearic acid and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles. The emulsion had a droplet size of 341 nm with SiO2 particles partially covering the oil–water interface. In vitro lipid digestion was faster for the emulsion compared to the corresponding LBF due to the larger total surface area available for digestion. Cellulose biopolymers were added to the emulsion to produce a gel for semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing into tablets. The emulsion gel showed suitable rheological attributes for SSE, with a trend of higher viscosity, yield stress, and storage modulus (G′), compared to a conventional self-emulsifying lipid-based emulsion gel. The developed emulsion gel allows for a non-emulsifying LBF to be transformed into solid dosage forms for rapid lipid digestion and drug release of a poorly water-soluble drug in the small intestine.

Synergistic Antibacterial Effect of Nalidixic Acid and Oleic Acid in Bacterial Cellulose Biopolymer Deposited on Flax Fabric in Presence of Honey as a Supplement

Synergistic Antibacterial Effect of Nalidixic Acid and Oleic Acid in Bacterial Cellulose Biopolymer Deposited on Flax Fabric in Presence of Honey as a Supplement

Laterite soil stabilization using cellulose biopolymer

Laterite soil stabilization is a promising technique that aims to enhance the engineering properties of this naturally occurring soil, Cellulose are one of the potential bio-polymer stabilizers that have been widely employed. The effectiveness of Cellulose (CL) biopolymer in stabilizing laterite soil is shown in this study. In various proportions of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by dry soil mass, cellulose biopolymer is treated with laterite soil. The engineering parameters of soils treated with cellulose biopolymer were determined using modified proctor tests, direct shear tests, and CBR tests. The treated soil's dry density increases slightly up to 3% cellulose content, but the optimum moisture content decreases. The addition of cellulose biopolymer greatly increased the strength and cohesiveness of laterite soil mixtures. The CBR value increases with increasing the cellulose dose up to 3%; however, with addition of dose, the CBR value decreases slightly in both soaked and unsoaked conditions. The examination of the microstructure through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) examinations revealed the emergence of novel cementitious substances as a consequence of chemical interactions between cellulose and laterite soil components at the microscopic scale. These reactions led to the enhancement of soil composition by fusing soil particles and occupying the voids within the soil framework. The use of cellulose as a material for the stabilization of laterite soil is therefore a solution for an environmentally benign soil stabilizing material.

THE INFLUENCE OF SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE ON THE SEDIMENTATION BEHAVIOUR OF NICKEL PHOSPHATE PRECIPITATE AT VARYING TEMPERATURES

The sedimentation data of nickel phosphate precipitate formed with or without a modifier - sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) biopolymer were studied under controlled conditions of temperature. The main objective was to access the influence of Na-CMC and temperature on On-set Sedimentation Rate (OSR) and Sedimentation Volume Ratio (SVR) of nickel phosphate. Na-CMC at different concentrations (200ppm - 2000ppm) was mixed with constant volume of disodium hydrogen phosphate solution in a graduating measuring cylinder. On mixing the resulting solution with constant volume of nickel chloride solution, a precipitate was formed, stirred for 1 min and placed in the sedimentation measurement device - PreSed Meter. The settling of the precipitate was monitored and recorded at different temperatures (30oC, 40oC and 50oC). Blank sedimentation (0ppm Na-CMC) was also run at various temperatures by adding 10ml of deionized water (instead of 10ml of Na-CMC solution). A plot of precipitate displacement per settling time established a logarithmic curve which flattened with time. Regression analyses of OSR (0.71 ≤ R2 ≥ 0.94) and SVR (0.51 ≤ R2 ≥ 0.93) indicated the dependence of sedimentation on concentration of Na-CMC thus implying chemical interaction between the chemical species.

Efficient methodology for the preparation and fabrication of cation exchange membranes using trichloroacetic acid and cellulose biopolymer

This article presents a new method for preparing enhanced cation exchange membrane (CEM) for water treatment using cellulose biopolymer. The preparation methodology of CEM membranes was performed in two steps; functionalization followed by fabrication. Firstly, cellulose powder was functionalized with trichloroacetic acid at different reaction times to prepare carboxymethyl tricellulose (CMTC). In the second step, the exchange memberane was fabricated via phase inversion technique using the functionalized cellulosic material and polyethylene glycol as a pore former. The prepared CEM was fully characterized using FTIR, SEM, mechanical properties, and degree of substitution (DS) determination. The morphological microstructure of the CEM membrane was investigated and discussed. The microstructural analysis by FTIR confirmed the functionalization process. The tensile values obtained at different reaction times showed the effectiveness of using trichloroacetic acid in the carboxymethylation and consequently, the stability of the obtained functionalized cellulose. The obtained DS values are higher than that of the commercial CMC and also the published values. It has been observed that the prepared CEM have an average DS value of 1.5 and therefore much higher than the DS value of commercial CMC whose DS ranges between 0.7 and 1.2. The prepared CEM membranes were morphologically investigated by SEM. The SEM photos showed homogeneously distributed small pores on the entire surface of the membrane, and its cross-section is a multilayer with large pores.