title: Chitin nanowhisker (ChNW)-functionalized electrospun PVDF membrane for enhanced removal of Indigo carmine.
abstract: In this study, an active functional adsorbent membrane developed by combining both hydrophilic bio polymer filler such as chitin nanowhiskers (ChNW) which contains two functional groups and a hydrophobic polymer matrix such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) using electrospinning technique. Here ChNW were successfully extracted by excluding proteins and mineral and well characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM. The optimized combination of PVDF/ChNW (15%:1%) membrane was fabricated and well characterized using SEM, water contact angle and FTIR spectroscopy. There was a remarkable difference in contact angle observed for PVDF/ChNW (22.72°) compared to neat PVDF (93.1°) membrane. Ultimately the membrane used for indigo carmine (IC) adsorption and an enhanced removal efficiency (88.9%) and adsorption capacity (72.6mgg-1) were observed compared to neat PVDF. In the future, the overall idea can make leads to various applications such as proteins, virus and hormones adsorption from the contaminated sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District, 624302, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sreerag
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopi
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686560, Kerala, India; International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686560, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Preetha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District, 624302, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: dranithapius@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pius
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686560, Kerala, India; International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686560, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Sabu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D007203:Indigo Carmine / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D049329:Nanostructures; D011145:Polyvinyls; D018508:Water Purification; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
keywords: Chitin; Electrospinning; Functional materials; Indigo carmine; Water purification