Phan D N,et al. Cellulose, 2019, 26, 1781-1793.
Enhance mechanically useful CS/CL nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and treatment with Na2CO3. These obtained CS/CL composite nanofibers were high tensile with a strength of around 17 MPa and elongation at break (5.5%). Interestingly, the mixed CS/CL did adsorb (39.457.3 and 112.6 mg/g) As(V), Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions, which could not be done with single-component CS or CL nanofibers.
Preparation of chitosan/cellulose nanofibers
· Electrospinning
For the production of CS/CA nanofibers, CS and CA were dissolved 1:1 weight in TFA/acetic acid solution (7:3 weight ratio) at various concentrations. The mixtures were gently stirred over 24 hours so that the ingredients dissolve entirely. The resulting solutions were then filled into plastic needle-loaded 20 mL syringes and fed into the fibre-production electrospinning machine.
· Na2CO3 post-treatment
Electrospun nanofibers were post-treated with Na2CO3 solution to create stable CS/CL nanofibrous webs. This treatment neutralized chitosan and deacetylated cellulose acetate to form cellulose (CL). The nanofiber webs were exposed to 3 M Na2CO3 solution at room temperature for 24 hours. Then they were rinsed in distilled water until the pH of the wash water was 7 and dried at 60 °C for 12 hours in a drying box.
