Hydrophobic cellulose ester as a sustainable material for simple and efficient water purification processes from fatty oils contamination

Abstract

In this study, cellulose fibers were chemically functionalized under mild conditions by introducing palmitate groups in order to produce a hydrophobic cellulose-based ester. The effectiveness and the degree of functionalization were evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), whereas the structural integrity was confirmed by XRD measurements. The prepared materials were tested in water remediation processes from fatty oils mixtures from both animal (cod liver oil) and vegetable (sunflower oil) sources. Experimental kinetic measurements, rationalized by means of the most common models, show that the best performances were reached by the sunflower oil, hence proving the promising application of such green materials as a sustainable alternative tool for oil-water remediation processes.

Advanced Polymeric Nanocomposite Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

“…The primary C-6 and the secondary C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups on the D-glucose monosaccharide units allow a variety of reactive mechanisms to be employed [ 310 , 311 , 312 , 313 ]. To be used for water purification and treatment, cellulose has been modified using esterification [ 314 ], etherification [ 315 ], halogenation [ 316 ], phosphorylation [ 317 ], xanthation [ 318 ], oxidation [ 319 ], sulfonation [ 320 ], carboxymethylation [ 321 ], hydrolysis [ 322 ], nitro-oxidation [ 323 ], and polymer surface functionalization [ 324 , 325 ] methods. These modifications can help fine tune their affinity towards specific contaminates and/or add beneficial features [ 314 , 324 , 326 , 327 , 328 , 329 ].…”