SEM study of the morphology of asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes produced from recycled agro-industrial residues: sugarcane bagasse and mango seeds

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 377 - 389
• Main Authors: Ferreira Júnior, Moacir Fernandes, Mundim, Elaine Angélica Ribeiro, Filho, Guimes Rodrigues, da Silva Meireles, Carla, Cerqueira, Daniel Alves, de Assunção, Rosana Maria Nascimento, Marcolin, Marcos, Zeni, Mara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.02.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes; Applied sciences; Asymmetry; Bagasse; Caustic soda; Cellulose acetate; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Ethanol; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange resins and membranes; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Fruits; Hydrochloric acid; Mangoes; Membranes; Molecular weight; Morphology; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Scanning electron microscopy; Seeds; Soft and Granular Matter; Solvents; Sugarcane; Technology of polymers; Viscosity; Brazil; SEM; Cellulose acetate; Mango seed; Asymmetric membrane; Sugarcane bagasse; Seeds; Transport properties; Molecular weight viscosity relationship; Plant fiber; Mango; Experimental study; Sugar cane(by product); Gas permeability; Chemical modification; Steam permeability; Bagasse; Natural fiber; Morphology; Cellulose derivatives; Concentration effect; Acetylation; Cellulose organic ester; Agricultural waste; Recycled material; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-010-0346-2

Cellulose, obtained both from sugarcane bagasse and mango seeds, was used for synthesizing cellulose acetate in order to produce asymmetric membranes. These were compared to membranes of commercial cellulose acetate (Rhodia). All produced membranes were asymmetric, characterized by the presence of a dense skin and a porous support. Differences regarding the morphology of the surfaces as well as of the porous support can be noticed. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that the morphology of the superficial layer, responsible for transport, depends on the different lignin content of the starting material and also on the viscosity average molecular weight of the cellulose acetates produced from sugarcane bagasse, mango seed, and Rhodia’s commercial cellulose acetate.