Synthesis and characterization of bacterial cellulose/alginate blend membranes |
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Authors: | Muenduen Phisalaphong Thapanar Suwanmajo Pramote Tammarate |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;2. Institute of Food Research and Product Development, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand |
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Abstract: | Bacterial cellulose and alginate in an aqueous NaOH/urea solution were used as substrate materials for the fabrication of a novel blend membrane. The blend solution was cast onto a Teflon plate, coagulated in a 5 wt % CaCl2 aqueous solution, and then treated with a 1% HCl solution. Supercritical carbon dioxide drying was then applied for the formation of a nanoporous structure. The physical properties and morphology of the regenerated bacterial cellulose and blend membranes were characterized. The blend membrane with 80% bacterial cellulose/20 wt % alginate displayed a homogeneous structure and exhibited a better water adsorption capacity and water vapor transmission rate. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the film with a thickness of 0.09 mm slightly decreased to 3.38 MPa and 31.60%, respectively. The average pore size of the blend membrane was 10.60 Å with a 19.50 m2/g surface area. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 |
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Keywords: | biopolymers blends membranes synthesis |
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