The effective preparation of membranes using natural polymeric materials has a positive effect in 'green' and sustainable manufacturing. We have successfully synthesized functional membranes and surfaces for water treatment and as row materials with natural materials extracted from cactus plants (cactus mucilage) and from the waste of shells of crustaceous such as crab and shrimp. Such bioinspired membranes and surfaces have been chemically characterized with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tested mechanically to determine their strength and elasticity, and evaluated electrically to determine their resistivity. We have found that the strength depends on the concentration of natural polymers  versus the amount of crosslinker. We have also determined that depending on the natural extraction process, the physical and chemical characteristics vary internal structure and processing methodologies. The chemical conformation of the membranes was determined to help understanding the effectiveness of the different synthetic methodologies to prepare these membranes and surfaces. The transparency of such surfaces is related to their structure and processing. We have found that crystal like membranes and surfaces led to surfaces that are translucid and conductive, whereas membranes and surfaces with amorphous structure are opaque and non-conductive. A life cycle assessment was made for the bioinspired membranes and surfaces and it was determined that their scalability is feasible, sustainable, and cost-effective. Other applications such as drug delivery, tissue scaffolds and innovating textiles have also been studied. Figure illustrates the nanoscaled structure of two of the extracts from the cactus plant (A, gelling extract, and B, non-gelling extract) used to produce 'green� membranes and surfaces.

Natural polymers use to manufacture �green� membranes and surfaces

248th National Meeting (2014)

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