Cellulose membranes for reverse osmosis Part I. RO cellulose acetate membranes including a composite with polypropylene Original Research Article

With the aim of obtaining RO membranes for brackish water desalination from purified celluloses (cotton linters and bleached bagasse pulp), two reactions (heterogeneous and homogeneous) were applied for the synthesis of cellulose acetate (CA). The efficiency of the membranes was measured and compared with those prepared from purchased CA and prepared CA by acetylation of imported high-grade viscose wood pulp. The effect of blending CA with polypropylene (PP), on the efficiency of the prepared RO membranes was also studied. Results showed that the method of preparation of CA plays a profound effect on the salt rejection and water flux of the RO membranes. The efficiencies of RO membranes formed from heterogeneously acetylated celluloses are higher than those prepared from homogeneous ones. Blending the acetylated cellulose with 9% PP wastes improves the efficiency of membranes prepared from the homogeneously acetylated celluloses.