Structure and properties of the regenerated cellulose membranes prepared from cellulose carbamate in NaOH/ZnO aqueous solution

Regenerated cellulose (RC) membranes were prepared from cellulose carbamate-NaOH/ZnO aqueous solutions by coagulating with H2SO4 solution. Structure, morphology and properties of the membranes were investigated by using scanning electron micrograph (SEM), X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, flow rate method, and tensile testing. The results from SEM and water permeability revealed that the pore size and water permeability of the membranes in wet state changed drastically as a function of the concentration of H2SO4 and coagulation temperature, whereas they hardly changed with the coagulation time. RC membranes coagulated with the relatively dilute H2SO4 solution at relatively low temperature exhibited better mechanical properties. This work provided a promising way to prepare cellulose membranes with different pore sizes and good physical properties.