Synthesis and Characterization of Regenerated Cellulose Composite Membranes for Sustainable Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of various photocatalysts, when incorporated into Regenerated Cellulose composite Membranes (RCMs), on the resulting structural properties and photocatalytic degradation performance. Three distinct composite membranes (RCMP25, RCMP25Cu, and RCMP25Ce) were successfully synthesized via a process involving dissolution of cellulose and subsequent coagulation. The successful incorporation of the catalysts and structure of membrane were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Notably, elemental Ti mapping further demonstrated a uniform distribution of the catalyst particles across the membrane surface. Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis revealed that the thermal characteristics of the membranes remained essentially unchanged despite the incorporation of different catalysts. In terms of performance, the RCMP25Cu membrane exhibited significant adsorption capabilities under dark conditions, removing up to 32.3% of Rhodamine B (RhB), and achieved the highest degradation efficiency for Methylene Blue (81.91%). Conversely, the RCMP25Ce membrane displayed superior photocatalytic activity toward RhB, reaching 84.89% degradation after 120 minutes of illumination under a Xenon lamp (95% visible light). Therefore, the RCMs exhibit remarkable versatility, enabling the incorporation of diverse photocatalysts for the adsorption and degradation of cationic pollutants without altering their structural integrity, phase composition, and morphology. This research highlights the potential of sustainable cellulose-based platforms for advancing next-generation composite membranes in water treatment applications.
Keywords
cellulose, photocatalyst, regenerated cellulose composite membranes, organic dyes, wastewater treatment
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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