oa Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate/Polyethylene Glycol Membrane from Pineapple Hump by Phase Inversion Method

Cellulose is a natural polymer contained in growing fibers, such as pineapple fibers. Cellulose can be modified into cellulose acetate, a modified polymer that can be used in the synthesis of a cellulose acetate/polyethylene glycol (CA/PEG) membrane. The phase inversion method was used in this study to produce CA/PEG membranes. Variations in PEG concentration with a ratio of 1:1 to cellulose acetate, where variations in PEG concentrations used are 2%, 5%, and 8%. Acetone and dimethylformamide are used as organic solvents. Membrane morphological analysis using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and functional group analysis using a Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer were performed for membrane characterization. The result of the synthesis of the CA/PEG membrane is in the form of a thin white layer. The characterization results of the FT-IR spectrometer showed the vibration of the carbonyl bond at wavenumber 1729 cm-1 and the vibration of the hydroxyl bond torque at the wave number 648 cm-1, where the vibration intensity decreased with each addition to the concentration. The results of SEM characterization show that the increase in PEG concentration increases the percentage porosity of the membrane. The membranes with 2%, 5%, and 8% PEG have porosity percentages of 51.54%, 68.70%, and 73.50%, respectively. As the membrane with 2% PEG has the lowest percent porosity, it is more potential in removing or filtering solutes from a fluid.