Studying the Effect of Shortening Carbon Nanotubes via Ball Milling on Cellulose Acetate Nanocomposite Membranes for Desalination Applications

• Published in: Membranes (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 5; p. 474
• Main Authors: Elbadawi, Nouran A, Ramadan, Adham R, Esawi, Amal M K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.04.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Ball milling; Carbon; carbon nanotubes; Cellulose acetate; Composite materials; Desalination; Freshwater resources; Hydrophilicity; Membranes; Morphology; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; nanocomposite membranes; Nanocomposites; Nanofiltration; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Penetration; Polymers; Porosity; Raman spectroscopy; Retention; Salt; Scanning electron microscopy; Sodium sulfate; Solvents; Stainless steel; Structural analysis; St Louis Missouri; United States > US; Germany; cellulose acetate; desalination; ball milling; carbon nanotubes; nanofiltration; nanocomposite membranes
• ISSN: 2077-0375; 2077-0375
• DOI: 10.3390/membranes12050474

Studying the effect of different sizes of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on mixed matrix membranes in nanofiltration applications has not been widely reported in the literature. In this study, two different lengths of functionalized CNTs were used to investigate such effect. First, CNTs were shortened by using high-energy ball milling at 400 RPM, with a ball-to-powder weight ratio (BPR) of 120:1. Characterization of the structure of the CNTs was carried out using TEM, XRD, SEM, BET, and Raman Spectroscopy. Second, 0.001 wt % of unmilled and milled CNTs were incorporated into cellulose acetate nanocomposite membranes, Eli-0 (unmilled), and Eli-400 (milled at 400 RPM) to study their effects on the membranes' morphology, porosity, hydrophilicity, and performance analysis in terms of permeation and salt retention rates of 5000 ppm Na SO . Results showed that shortening CNTs enhanced the membranes' hydrophilicity and affected macrovoid and micropore formation. Furthermore, shortening CNTs resulted in opening their caps and improved the permeation rates with a slight adverse effect on salt retention.