Improvement of chitosan-based membrane mechanical strength using TiO2 nanoparticles

Chitosan based nanocomposite membrane have been successfully prepared by using TiO2 nanoparticles forimprovement of mechanical strength of the membranes. Three types of chitosan based membranes include of neatchitosan, Chitosan/cellulose acetate blended and Chitosan/cellulose acetate/TiO2 nanocomposite membranes have beenprepared. Mechanical and hydrodynamic properties of the chitosan based membranes have been characterized withtensile tests and water flux measurement. The membranes porosities were measured via pure water adsorptionpercentage. When compared with neat chitosan, the mechanical strength of CS/CA blend and CS/CA/TiO2nanocomposite membranes were improved 30% and 74%, respectively.

Keywords:

chitosan membrane , cellulose acetate , TiO2 nanoparticles , nanocomposite