Evaluation of cellulose acetate membrane with carbon nanotubes additives

Cellulose acetate (CA)/carbon nano tubes (CNT) membranes were prepared using phase inversion method by dispersing different ratio of carbon nano-materials in CA casting solution. Different polymer to solvent ratios examined for enhancement of membrane desalination. The influence of differentiation in CA and CNT ratio on the morphology and thermal stability were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Also, Permeation performance of the prepared membranes was evaluated. Morphology results showed that CA membrane porosity decreased with increasing polymer ratio. The membranes pure water flux was increased by the addition of nano-carbon materials. The optimum polymer to solvent ratio for accepted desalination performance was 25:75. The presence of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in the optimum membrane enhanced the salt rejection markedly to 96% as well as the pure water flux has been improved. The optimum membrane in the presence of CNT has convenient thermal stability with accepted water content percent and swelling percent. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.