Modification of regenerated cellulose membrane based on thiol dendrimer

Abstract

This work describes the modification of a highly swollen commercial regenerated cellulose (RC) membrane with a dendritic molecule (thiol DAB dendrimer of generation 3) by the dip coating method, and its possible use in electrochemical systems with saline solutions fluxes. Moreover, cellulosic membrane modification with dendrimer covered-CdSe quantum dot was also performed, since it allows dendrimer assortment by fluorescence. Changes in electrical, mechanical and diffusive membrane parameters were determined by impedance spectroscopy, elasticity curves and diffusional permeability measurements. The results indicate a reduction in the free volume of the RC chains in the original membrane associated with the thiol dendrimer inclusion, which reduces diffusive permeability. This demonstrates the possibility of using the thiol dendrimer-modified membrane in low/medium concentration level (0.001M/0.01M) devices with NaCl and PbCl2 solutions.

Keywords: Cellulosic membrane; Dendrimer; Mechanical properties; Permeability analysis and reduction.