OLIGOSACCHARIDE FUNCTIONALIZED NANOFIBROUS MEMBRANE

An attempt was made to incorporate beta-Cyclodextrin (beta-CD) onto the surface of the nanofiber to target potential applications in organic waste treatment. Phenylcarbomylated and azido phenylcarbomylated beta-CD were successfully blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and electrospun into nanofibrous membrane respectively with an approximate diameter of 900 nm. The presence of this selective agent on the surface of the nanofibers was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and XPS. To determine the functionalized membranes ability to capture small organic molecules, a solution containing phenolphthalein (PHP), a small organic molecule, was used. The results obtained showed that the functionalized nanofibrous membranes were able to effectively capture the PHP molecules. Thus the developed beta-CD functionalized nanofibrous membranes may have the potential to capture similar small organic molecules in organic waste.