Water desalination using nanocelluloses/cellulose derivatives based membranes for sustainable future

This review is devoted to the application of bulk synthetic polymers such as polysulfone (PSf), polyethersulfone (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for the separation of oil-water emulsions. Due to the high hydrophobicity of the presented polymers and their tendency to be contaminated with water-oil emulsions, methods for the hydrophilization of membranes based on them were analyzed: the mixing of polymers, the introduction of inorganic additives, and surface modification. In addition, membranes based on natural hydrophilic materials (cellulose and its derivatives) are given as a comparison.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/5/980/pdf?version=1646216179

Polymeric Membranes for Oil-Water Separation: A Review

Cellulose and cellulose derivatives represent one of the most abundant, in terms of quantity class of sustainable polymers that nature provides. The use of these polymers in a wide range of applications is well known for being used as such or by processing composite or functionalized materials. When it comes to functionalized cellulose, a small problem arises due to the limitation given by the limited reactivity of the hydroxyl groups present on the polymer chain. The present review aims to show a versatile method of functionalizing cellulose with aminopropyltriethoxysilane, the remaining amino group having a much higher reactivity and being much more versatile. Examples of the use of aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a linker for subsequent binding will be presented, as well as its direct applicability in various reactive separation processes.

Aminopropyltriethoxysilane as a linker for cellulose-based functional materials: New horizons and future challenges

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles of engineering and life sciences to obtain biomaterials capable of maintaining, improving, or substituting the function of various tissues or even an entire organ. In virtue of its high availability, biocompatibility and versatility, cellulose was considered a promising platform for such applications. The combination of cellulose with graphene or graphene derivatives leads to the obtainment of superior composites in terms of cellular attachment, growth and proliferation, integration into host tissue, and stem cell differentiation toward specific lineages. The current review provides an up-to-date summary of the status of the field of cellulose composites with graphene for tissue engineering applications. The preparation methods and the biological performance of cellulose paper, bacterial cellulose, and cellulose derivatives-based composites with graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide were mainly discussed. The importance of the cellulose-based matrix and the contribution of graphene and graphene derivatives fillers as well as several key applications of these hybrid materials, particularly for the development of multifunctional scaffolds for cell culture, bone and neural tissue regeneration were also highlighted.

Cellulose Composites with Graphene for Tissue Engineering Applications.

The development of novel polymeric composites based on cellulose derivatives and hydroxyapatite represents a fascinating and challenging research topic in membranes science and technology. Cellulose-based materials are a viable alternative to synthetic polymers due to their favorable physico-chemical and biological characteristics. They are also an appropriate organic matrix for the incorporation of hydroxyapatite particles, inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, as well as electrostatic interactions being formed between the functional groups on the polymeric chains surface and the inorganic filler. The current review presents an overview on the main application fields of cellulose derivatives/hydroxyapatite composite membranes. Considering the versatility of hydroxyapatite particles, the hybrid materials offer favorable prospects for applications in water purification, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and hemodialysis. The preparation technique and the chemical composition have a big influence on the final membrane properties. The well-established membrane fabrication methods such as phase inversion, electrospinning, or gradual electrostatic assembly are discussed, together with the various strategies employed to obtain a homogenous dispersion of the inorganic particles in the polymeric matrix. Finally, the main conclusions and the future directions regarding the preparation and applications of cellulose derivatives/hydroxyapatite composite membranes are presented.

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/11/2481/pdf

Recent Advances in Applications of Cellulose Derivatives-Based Composite Membranes with Hydroxyapatite.

Polysulfone functionalized membranes: Properties and challenges

This study presents a new, revolutionary, and easy method for evaluating the separation process through a membrane that is based on changing the color of the membrane surface during the separation process. For this purpose, a cellulose acetate membrane surface was modified in several steps: initially with amino propyl triethoxysilane, followed by glutaraldehyde reaction and calmagite immobilization. Calmagite was chosen for its dual role as a molecule that will complex and retain Gd(III) and also as an indicator for Gd(III). At the contact with the membrane surface, calmagite will actively complex and retain Gd(III), and it will change the color of the membrane surface during the complexation process, showing that the separation occurred. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy, demonstrating the synthesis of membrane material with self-indicating properties. In addition, in the separation of the Gd(III) process, in which a solution of gadolinium nitrate was used as a source and as a moderator in nuclear reactors, the membrane changed its color from blue to pink. The membrane performances were tested by Induced Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses showing a separation process efficiency of 86% relative to the initial feed solution.

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/10/5/468/pdf

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate Membranes with Self-Indicating Properties by Changing the Membrane Surface Color for Separation of Gd(III)

The present review deals with the latest progress in the field of polysulfone composite membranes with carbon nanotubes, carbon fiber and graphene from both perspectives-synthesis and applications These two fillers, extensively used in the last few years due to their remarkable properties, induce a high value character to the composite materials On the other hand, polysulfone is one the most used polymers for preparing polymeric membranes due to its high versatility in a wide range of solvents and also to the properties of this remarkable polymer All types of synthesis method were presented and also a large number of applications from industrial to biomedical were presented and discussed

Polysulfone Composite Membranes with Carbonaceous Structure. Synthesis and Applications

This study presents a new, revolutionary, and easy method of separating Gd (III). For this purpose, a cellulose acetate membrane surface was modified in three steps, as follows: firstly, with aminopropyl triethoxysylene; then with glutaraldehyde; and at the end, by immobilization of crown ethers. The obtained membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), through which the synthesis of membranes with Gd (III) separation properties is demonstrated. In addition, for the Gd (III) separating process, a gadolinium nitrate solution, with applications of moderator poison in nuclear reactors, was used. The membranes retention performance has been demonstrated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), showing a separation efficiency of up to 91%, compared with the initial feed solution.

Oana Steluta Serbanescu

Papers

Polysulfone functionalized membranes: Properties and challenges

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate Membranes with Self-Indicating Properties by Changing the Membrane Surface Color for Separation of Gd(III)

Polysulfone Composite Membranes with Carbonaceous Structure. Synthesis and Applications

Crown Ether-Immobilized Cellulose Acetate Membranes for the Retention of Gd (III).