Enhanced water filtration performance in electrospun cellulose acetate membranes via TEMPO-mediated cellulose nanocrystal incorporation and hot pressing
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Access to clean water is increasingly critical due to escalating pollution from industrialization and population growth. This study presents the development of advanced cellulose acetate (CA)-based membranes for water filtration through an integrated approach combining electrospinning, hot pressing, and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) functionalization. A 12 wt.% CA solution in a 4:1 acetone/acetic acid mixture was electrospun under optimized conditions (1 mL/h, 15 cm, 35–70% relative humidity) to produce uniform, bead-free nanofibrous mats. Subsequent hot pressing at 100 °C and 20 bar yielded denser membranes with enhanced mechanical durability and reduced pore size. Functionalization with CNCs and TEMPO-oxidized CNCs (CNCTEMPO) further improved performance. TEMPO oxidation introduced a carboxyl content of 0.56 ± 0.04 mmol/g, enhancing nanocrystal dispersion and interfacial adhesion within the CA matrix. This reduced the water contact angle from 104° to 37° and filtration time from 100 minutes to under 30 seconds. Filtration tests showed improved rejection of 2.0 μm particles (92%) and efficient methylene blue dye removal (up to 95%) in membranes with 3 wt.% CNCTEMPO. This is the first systematic study examining the synergistic effect of electrospinning, hot pressing, and CNCTEMPO functionalization, offering a promising strategy for fabricating high-performance, multifunctional membranes for sustainable water treatment applications.