ORGS5-1139
All-polysaccharide thin-film composite (TFC) membranes for sustainable aqueous and organic solvent nanofiltration
Topic
GS5. Graduate Student Oral Session V: Sustainable Polymers and Circular Materials
When and Where
Sep 28, 2026
16:24 - 16:36
Room 105
Session Chairs
Taehoo CHANG
Taejun EOM
Chae Bin KIM
Presenter(s)
Jieun Kang (KyungHee University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
We report a sustainable, high-performance organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane (H-CA-TFC-DA) designed to address the environmental limitations of traditional petroleum-based separation systems. By fabricating a cross-linked polyamide selective layer on a cellulose acetate (CA)-reinforced Hanji substrate, followed by controlled deacetylation, we achieved both exceptional structural stability and inherent biodegradability. In harsh polar aprotic media, a hyper-densified 12 wt.% CA support matrix provided crucial mechanical anchoring, successfully mitigating active layer swelling and ensuring predictable transport characteristics. The industrial utility of the membrane was demonstrated via the continuous fractionation of roxithromycin (Roxi) from dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalysts in acetonitrile, with the purification profiles closely matching theoretical mass-balance trends. Furthermore, the membrane exhibited complete biological decomposition within 21 days under standard ISO 14855 composting conditions. This rapid disintegration is governed by the deacetylation process, which regenerates unhindered cellulose, eliminates the steric barriers of acetyl groups, and accelerates enzymatic hydrolysis to induce the total structural collapse of the ultra-thin active layer. This work offers a compelling strategy for developing next-generation green membranes that harmonize rigorous industrial molecular separations with comprehensive environmental compatibility.
