Efficient methodology for the preparation and fabrication of cation exchange membranes using trichloroacetic acid and cellulose biopolymer

This article presents a new method for preparing enhanced cation exchange membrane (CEM) for water treatment using cellulose biopolymer. The preparation methodology of CEM membranes was performed in two steps; functionalization followed by fabrication. Firstly, cellulose powder was functionalized with trichloroacetic acid at different reaction times to prepare carboxymethyl tricellulose (CMTC). In the second step, the exchange memberane was fabricated via phase inversion technique using the functionalized cellulosic material and polyethylene glycol as a pore former. The prepared CEM was fully characterized using FTIR, SEM, mechanical properties, and degree of substitution (DS) determination. The morphological microstructure of the CEM membrane was investigated and discussed. The microstructural analysis by FTIR confirmed the functionalization process. The tensile values obtained at different reaction times showed the effectiveness of using trichloroacetic acid in the carboxymethylation and consequently, the stability of the obtained functionalized cellulose. The obtained DS values are higher than that of the commercial CMC and also the published values. It has been observed that the prepared CEM have an average DS value of 1.5 and therefore much higher than the DS value of commercial CMC whose DS ranges between 0.7 and 1.2. The prepared CEM membranes were morphologically investigated by SEM. The SEM photos showed homogeneously distributed small pores on the entire surface of the membrane, and its cross-section is a multilayer with large pores

Preparation and evaluation of some amide ether carboxylate surfactants

A homologous series of new mild surfactants, namely: Alkyl amide ether carboxylates surfactants (AEC) RCO–NHCH2CH2O (CH2CH2O)6CH2COONa, were synthesized by esterification, amidation, ethoxylation and carboxymethylation reaction steps of fatty acids (Lauric, Myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic or linoleic). The chemical structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed using different spectroscopic techniques, FTIR spectroscopy, mass spectra and HNMR. The surface properties including surface and interfacial tensions, foaming height, emulsification power, calcium ion stability, stability to hydrolysis and critical micelle concentration (cmc) were determined. The study of their surface properties showed their stability in hard water and in acidic and alkaline media. These compounds have high calcium ion stability. The low foaming power could have an application in the dyeing auxiliary industry. The lower values of the interfacial tension values indicate the ability of using these surfactants in several applications as corrosion inhibitors and biocides. The data revealed various advantages and potentials as a main surfactant as well as co- surfactants

Surface parameters, biodegradability and antimicrobial activity of some amide ether carboxylates surfactants

In the present investigation, a series of amide ether carboxylates surfactants RCO-NHCH2CH2O (CH2CH2O)6CH2COONa (AEC), with different alkyl chain lengths from (C12 to C18) and (C18=, C18==) were synthesized. The surface parameters particularly effectiveness (Πcmc), efficiency (PC20), maximum surface excess (Γmax) and minimum area per molecule (Amin) values were investigated. In addition, the standard free energies of micellization (ΔGmic0) and adsorption (ΔGads0) were calculated for the prepared surfactants in aqueous solution. The prepared surfactants were tested for their biodegradability in the water of the River Nile according to the Die-away test method. Their antimicrobial activity against strains of bacteria, yeast and fungi were also investigated