Water Desalination Graphene Oxide/Ca Ro Membranes Manufactured From Date Palm Fibers' Microcrystalline Cellulose

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 National Research Centre, Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Dokki 12622, Cairo, Egypt

2 The Holding company for drinking water

3 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt;

4 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University

5 Water Pollution Control Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Egypt produces tons of date palm fibers every year. Fibers of Phoenix dactylifera were chemically pulped in here by alkali hydrolysis into hemicellulose, wax, lignin etc... Fractions produced were chemically characterized via spectroscopic techniques, while pure cellulose was examined by XRD and 1H NMR. Finally, crude cellulose was designed into a microcrystalline form by acid hydrolysis for a much better surface merits supporting the acetylation reaction resulting in cellulose acetate (CA). Using NMP as a solvent, casting solutions of CA were prepared loaded with graphene oxide (G.O) 0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 % (w/v) giving rise to newly developed membranes employed in a reverse osmosis cell. Membranes were characterized by SEM and tested for contact angle values. Decreased contact angles referred to enhanced hydrophillicity explaining the improved permeation rate except for CA membrane loaded with 0.1% GO. The average permeation rate increased for all membranes except for the one loaded with 0.1% GO. Average salt rejection percentage was raised as well for all membranes being 49.3, 53.6, 67.5 and 69.1 %. The incorporation of GO into CA membranes enhanced hydrophillicity, average permeation rate and average salt rejection % of CA membranes derived from date palm fibers.

Keywords

Files

Cited by

History

  • Receive Date: 26 November 2023
  • Revise Date: 24 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 31 December 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics