Synthesis of Cellulose Acetate Membrane from the Egyptian Rice Straws

Abstract

In Egypt, approx. 4.5 million tons from 35 million tons of the annual prodn. of recoverable cereal are disposed by burning and it creates a big problem. Isolation of cellulose with high yield and purity is a long-standing goal in cellulose development because of the complexity of cell wall structure of rice straw. Chem. compn. of Egyptian rice straw was detd. (moisture, ash, LMWC, wax and protein) and total carbohydrates. Cellulose was extd. by different alk. NaOH concn. till optimum conditions detd. A series of acetylated celluloses with various degrees of substitution were prepd. by homogeneous acetylation of celluloses. The FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR were used to investigate the changes of chem. structures and phys. characteristics. Three cellulosic membranes fabricated from cellulose acetate/polyethersulfone composite. The scanning electron microscope was measured and characterized by pore-free upper surface and a porous bottom surface. A water uptake ratio was measured at room temp. for three membranes of crude (M1), sol. acetone (M2) and sol. chloroform cellulose acetate (M3) as 708, 527 and 710% (wt./wt.), resp. [on SciFinder(R)]