Development and evaluation of bamboo nanocellulose PVDF mixed matrix membrane for water purification

Abstract

This paper focuses on developing and evaluating bamboo nanocellulose-incorporated PVDF mixed matrix membranes for water purification. We highlight the potential of using bamboo, a renewable and biodegradable resource, to create advanced nanofiltration membranes. These membranes were tested for their effectiveness in removing contaminants such as heavy metals, organic compounds and dyes from water. Five types of membranes were developed, namely a pristine membrane (PVDF), PVDF-1 % nanocellulose membrane (NCM), PVDF-2 %NCM, PVDF-3 %NCM, PVDF-4 %NCM, and PVDF-5 %NCM. These had 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, and 5 % nanocellulose-incorporated nanocomposite membrane, respectively. Water permeability and dye rejection performance increased with increasing nanocellulose content from 1 % to 4 %. PVDF-4 %NCM demonstrated the best balance of water permeability and dye rejection performance. This optimal composition resulted in well-formed porous structures, enhancing the membrane's efficiency. However, increasing the nanocellulose content to 5 % adversely affected the membrane's efficiency due to distortions in the pore structure. The findings underscore the potential of bamboo-based membranes as a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based materials, offering environmental benefits while maintaining high-performance characteristics. We recommend that future research should focus on optimizing fabrication techniques and exploring scalability for broader commercial applications, especially in regions where bamboo is abundant, such as Borneo.