PREPARATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CELLULOSIC MEMBRANES FROM LOCAL AFRICAN MATERIALS FOR DESALINIZATION ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Cellulosic materials occupy the top of the list of polymers used for preparing organic membranes. These membranes are used in reverse osmosis, filters, electrodialyzers and ion exchangers for sea and brackish water desalination, production of pure and ultra-pure water for medical uses (artificial kidney membranes), and waste water treatment. The preparation of asymmetric reverse osmosis membranes from cellulose esters and other derivatives are studied by numerous authors; while the literature on using cellulose derivatives prepared from non-wood fibrous materials, as a polymeric material for reverse osmosis membranes, is scanty.

In this thesis, the preparation afRO-membranes from modified non­ woody cellulosic materials (acetylated cotton linters and kraft bagasse pulp) for desalination of brackish water and minimizing the steps of preparing the RO-membranes (for economical cost) are the basic objectives.

RO-membranes were tested using brackish water of Abou El Gharadik brackish wells located in the Egyptian western desert, 400 Km west of Cairo, 200 Km south of Alamein city, close to Qattara depression. Total dissolved salts in their water ranges between 10,000 toll,OOO ppm.