Fabrication and Characterization of Functional Biobased Membranes from Postconsumer Cotton Fabrics and Palm Waste for the Removal of Dyes

Abstract

Textile industries currently face vast challenges for the active removal of colored wastewater. Indeed, sustainable, recyclable, and green approaches are still lacking to achieve this aim. Thus, the present study explored the utilization of highly functional, green, recyclable, fully bio-based, and cost-effective composite membranes from post-consumer cotton fabrics and palm waste for wastewater treatment purposes. Highly functional cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were produced from waste cotton fabrics and filter paper using an acid hydrolysis technique. The yield of nanofibers extracted from waste cotton fabrics and filter paper was 76.74 and 54.50%, respectively. The physical, chemical, and structural properties of nanofibers were studied using various advanced analytical techniques. The properties of isolated nanofibers were almost similar and comparable to those of commercial nanofibers. The surface charge densities were −94.0, −80.7, and −90.6 mV for the nanofibers of palm waste, cotton fibers, and filter paper, respectively. After membrane fabrication using vacuum and hot-pressing techniques, the characteristics of the membrane were analyzed. The results showed that the average pore size of the palm-waste membrane was 1.185 nm, while it was 1.875 nm for membrane from waste cotton fibers and filter paper. Congo red and methylene blue dyes were used as model solutions to understand the behavior of available functional groups and the surface ζ-potential of the membrane frameworks’ interaction. The membrane made from palm waste had the highest dye removal efficiency, and it was 23% for Congo red and 44% for methylene blue. This study provides insights into the challenges associated with the use of postconsumer textile and agricultural waste, which can be potentially used in high-performance liquid filtration devices for a more sustainable society.

Cellulose Fabrics Functionalized with Sol–Gel Photocatalytic Coatings Based on Iron (III) Phthalocyanine Tetracarboxylic Acids–TiO2–Silica Hybrids

“…Thus, the dehydration of the cotton fibers favors the formation of intercalated hydrogen bonds, and the measurement of the specific surface area of the fibers is mainly performed on the outer surface. The low value of the pore volume compared to those obtained for other types of cellulose membranes [32] may be due to the collapse (modification) of the cellulose structure following the degassing/drying process. Thus, as specified in the literature, the main adsorption mechanism for cotton fabrics is represented by capillary adsorption.…”

“…Thus, the dehydration of the cotton fibers favors the formation of intercalated hydrogen bonds, and the measurement of the specific surface area of the fibers is mainly performed on the outer surface. The low value of the pore volume compared to those obtained for other types of cellulose membranes [32] may be due to the collapse (modification) of the cellulose…”

Cellulose Nanofibrils-Reinforced Pectin Membranes for the Adsorption of Cationic Dyes from a Model Solution

“…In addition, hydrogen bonds can be formed between N atoms (hydrogen bond receptors) in dye molecules and hydroxyl groups in pectin/cellulose molecules, and also, new conjugates can be established between C=C-bonds in dye molecules and hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in pectin/cellulose molecules (chemisorption) [ 8 ]. The better removal efficiency of BB22 in comparison to BY28 dye can also be attributed to its lower molar mass, facilitating more adsorbate movement through the membrane pores, and, accordingly, leaving the adsorption sites available for binding, as explained in [ 31 ].…”

Innovative ionic liquid pretreatment followed by wet disk milling treatment provides enhanced properties of sugar palm nano-fibrillated cellulose

“…The pore size of SPNFC was measured using a surface area and porosity analyzer (Tristar II 3020, Micromeritics, USA), which included the adsorption of nitrogen gas. The SPNFC had careful degassing by being exposed to an inert nitrogen flow [ 56 ] at 150 °C for a duration of 24 h. Subsequently, the determination of the average pore size was accomplished utilizing the bubble point technique of the Capillary Flow Porometer [ 57 ].…”