Physicochemical characterization of cellulose nanocrystal and nanoporous self-assembled CNC membrane derived from Ceiba pentandra. (10th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohamed, Mohamad Azuwa; W. Salleh, W.N.; Jaafar, Juhana; Ismail, A.F.; Abd Mutalib, Muhazri; Mohamad, Abu Bakar; M. Zain, M.F.; Awang, Nor Asikin; Mohd Hir, Zul Adlan
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 157(2017)
• Page Start: 1892
• Page End: 1902
• Publication Date: 2017-02-10
• Subjects: Cellulose nanocrystal -- Kapok fiber -- Self-assembled CNC membrane -- Dye removal; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.11.078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Extraction and isolation of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) from kapok fibre. Fabrication of nanoporous self-assembled CNC membrane via facile technique. New, renewable, and low cost membrane especially in the dye removal application. Abstract: This research involves the rare utilisation of the kapok fibre (Ceiba pentandra) as a raw material for the fabrication of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and self-assembled CNC membranes. The isolation of CNC from Ceiba pentandra began with the extraction of cellulose via the chemical alkali extraction by using 5 wt% NaOH, followed by the typical acidified bleaching method and, finally, the CNC production through acid hydrolysis with 60 wt% H2 SO4 at the optimum time of 60 min. The prepared CNC was then employed for the preparation of self-assembled membrane through the water suspension casting evaporation technique. The obtained CNC membrane was characterised in terms of its composition, crystallinity, thermal stability, as well as, structural and morphological features with the use of several techniques including FTIR, XRD, AFM, TEM, FESEM, and TGA. The FESEM and AFM analyses had illustrated the achievement of a self-assembled CNC membrane with a smooth surface and a well-distributed nano-porous structure, with the porosity of 52.82 ± 7.79%. In addition, the findings proved that the self-assembled CNC membrane displayed good adsorption capability indicated by the recorded efficiency of 79% and 85% for 10 mg/L and 5 mg/L of methylene blue in an aqueous solution, respectively.