Issue 9, 2017

In situ TEMPO surface functionalization of nanocellulose membranes for enhanced adsorption of metal ions from aqueous medium

Abstract

The current work demonstrates an innovative approach to develop nanocellulose based membranes with high water permeability, mechanical stability and high functionality via (1) tailoring the composition of the support layer of sludge microfibers/cellulose nanofibers (CNFSL) and (2) in situ TEMPO functionalization of the thin functional layer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCBE) to enhance the metal ion adsorption capacity. SEM studies showed a porous network structure of the cellulose support layer and a denser functional layer with CNCBE embedded within gelatin matrix. AFM studies indicated the presence of a nanoscaled coating and increased roughness of membranes surface after TEMPO modification whereas FT-IR and conductometric titration confirmed the introduction of carboxyl groups upon TEMPO oxidation. The contact angle measurement results showed improved hydrophilic nature of membranes after in situ TEMPO functionalization. High networking potential of CNFSL made the membrane support layer tighter with a concomitant decrease in the average pore size from 6.5 to 2.0 μm. The coating with CNCBE further decreased the average pore size to 0.78 and 0.58 μm for S/CNCBE and S–CNFSL/CNCBE, respectively. In parallel, a drastic decrease in water flux (8000 to 90 L MPa−1 h−1 m−2) after coating with CNCBE was recorded but interestingly in situ functionalization of top CNCBE layer did not affect water flux significantly. The increase in adsorption capacity of ≈1.3 and ≈1.2 fold was achieved for Cu(II) and Fe(II)/Fe(III), respectively after in situ TEMPO functionalization of membranes. Biodegradation study confirmed the stability of layered membranes in model wastewater and a complete degradation of membranes was recorded after 15 days in soil.

Graphical abstract: In situ TEMPO surface functionalization of nanocellulose membranes for enhanced adsorption of metal ions from aqueous medium

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Okt 2016
Accepted
05 Jan 2017
First published
17 Jan 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 5232-5241

In situ TEMPO surface functionalization of nanocellulose membranes for enhanced adsorption of metal ions from aqueous medium

Z. Karim, M. Hakalahti, T. Tammelin and A. P. Mathew, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 5232 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA25707K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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