Preparation and application of cellulose triacetate microspheres

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Biomass Utilization

Background:

• Cellulose triacetate (CTA) is a versatile biopolymer derived from cellulose.
• Ramie fiber, a sustainable biomass source, offers potential for producing advanced materials.
• Developing efficient adsorbents for dye removal is crucial for water purification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize cellulose triacetate (CTA) from ramie fiber.
• To fabricate honeycomb-like CTA microspheres.
• To evaluate the application of CTA microspheres as adsorbents for removing disperse dyes from aqueous solutions.

Main Methods:

• Ramie fiber was reacted with acetic anhydride and acetic acid to produce CTA (DS 2.93).
• CTA solution was used to prepare honeycomb-like microspheres (average diameter 14 µm) via emulsion method.
• Optimization of microsphere preparation involved varying CTA/dichloromethane ratio and sodium dodecylsulfonate concentration.
• Adsorption performance was assessed by measuring the removal of DR dye under different temperatures, pH, and adsorbent dosages.
• Characterization techniques included FT-IR, NMR, XRD, and SEM.

Main Results:

• Cellulose triacetate with a degree of substitution of 2.93 was successfully synthesized from ramie fiber.
• Honeycomb-like CTA microspheres were fabricated with optimized conditions (CTA/dichloromethane ratio 1:7, 0.75% sodium dodecylsulfonate).
• The CTA microspheres demonstrated an adsorption capacity of 16.5 mg/g for DR dye at 50°C and pH 7.

Conclusions:

• Honeycomb-like cellulose triacetate microspheres can be effectively synthesized from ramie fiber.
• These CTA microspheres show promising performance as adsorbents for removing disperse dyes from contaminated water.
• The study highlights the potential of biomass-derived materials for environmental applications.