SOME STUDIES ON ANTIMICROBIAL REGENERATED CELLULOSE MEMBRANES USING LIGNOCELLULOSIC WASTE

Abstract

This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of antibacterial regenerated cellulose membranes for water treatment using lignocellulosic waste. Coir pith and sugarcane bagasse are chosen for this purpose. The extracted cellulose is characterized. As the amount of extracted cellulose is greater for sugarcane bagasse, so we fabricated our membranes using sugarcane bagasse. 7% NaOH/12% urea is used as solvent and silver modified montmorrilonite as an antibacterial agent. Methanol, calcium chloride and gelatin are used as coagulant. Membranes coagulated with methanol show maximum strength while with gelatine we get good porosity and comparable strength. Membranes obtained through calcium chloride coagulant have good strength and moderate porosity. Antibacterial membranes are fabricated using calcium chloride as a coagulant and as a pore forming agent. Membranes are characterized by DTA, TGA, SEM techniques. Pore size of membranes is in the range of 10- 30 μm. Water content and pure water flux measurement are carried out. Pure water flux of the membranes decreases with the increase in concentration of silver modified montmorrilonite upto 1.5%. Antibacterial testing is carried out for both Gram positive (S.aureus) and Gram negative (E. Coli) bacteria. Membranes show good antibacterial properties for both the tested bacteria. So, these membranes may be a good alternative for pretreatment of RO, UF or NF processes or may be used as cell strainers.