Cellulose, Cellulose Benzoate and Cellulose Citrate from Screw Pine (Pandanus tectorius) Leaves as PVDF Filler for Improved Permeability and Anti-fouling Properties

Cellulose was isolated from screw pine (Pandanus tectorius) leaves through an alkalization and bleaching process and synthesized into cellulose benzoate and cellulose citrate. Cellulose, cellulose benzoate, and cellulose citrate were introduced to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix as fillers via blending-phase inversion method to improve PVDF membrane permeability and anti-fouling properties. The effect of cellulose, cellulose benzoate, and cellulose citrate fillers on PVDF membrane hydrophilicity, permeability, selectivity, anti-fouling properties, and morphology was investigated. The result demonstrates that the PVDF membrane's hydrophilicity, permeability, and anti-fouling properties were improved by the addition of filler. With the addition of 0.3% of cellulose, cellulose citrate, and cellulose benzoate, water permeability in PVDF was doubled. PVDF membrane rejection of methylene blue increased up to 86, 85 and 82%, respectively, with the addition of 0.3% cellulose, cellulose citrate, and cellulose benzoate. Anti-fouling properties value increased up to 89% in 0.3% cellulose citrate addition. These results indicated that cellulose, cellulose benzoate, and cellulose citrate from screw pine leaves are excellent for PVDF membrane fillers which are comparable with other reported membranes.