By: Hanis Masyithah Ilias, Siti Hajar Othman, Ruzanna Ahmad Shapi'i and Khairul Faezah Md Yunos

The research focuses on developing new membranes using starch biopolymer with varying concentrations of chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) for water treatment applications. The membranes were created through the solvent casting method, while the CNP was synthesized using the ionic gelation method. Following fabrication, the membranes were subjected to comprehensive characterization involving morphological analysis, porosity assessment, water vapor permeability (WVP) testing, and water contact angle measurement.

To evaluate their practical application, the membranes were employed in treating methylene blue solution, a common dye in industrial settings. The results indicated that the starch/10% CNP membrane demonstrated the most promising attributes for methylene blue dye treatment, exhibiting a smooth surface, high WVP, substantial porosity, low water contact angle, and achieving a significant percentage removal of the dye without structural degradation post-filtration. The study shows holds particular significance as it point towards the potential of the starch/CNP membranes in providing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for water treatment, especially in cases involving water contaminated with methylene blue dye.

Notably, the research aligns with current thematic trends in the utilization of bionanohybrid composite materials, presenting innovative approaches to address prevalent water pollution challenges. By leveraging the unique properties of starch and CNP, the developed membranes offer promise in advancing water treatment technologies, with implications for various industries and environmental conservation efforts. The effective removal of methylene blue by the starch/CNP membranes underscores their viability in practical applications and underscores the potential to contribute to addressing water quality concerns in diverse settings.

Find full paper https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6528/ad4cf3/meta

Tarikh Input: 28/06/2024 | Kemaskini: 28/06/2024 | roslina_ar