Synthesis of proton-conducting membranes based on sulfonated polystyrene and bacterial cellulose

Abstract

Synthesis of composite material based on sulfonated polystyrene and bacterial cellulose as a proton membrane has been carried out. In this study, the membrane was made with the variations mass ratio of sulfonated polystyrene : bacterial cellulose 1,5: 3,5, 2,5: 2,5, 3,5: 1,5. The previous step was sulfonation of polystyrene, in which the polystyrene used is styrofoam from electronic goods packaging waste. Polystyrene in this case styrofoam is sulfonated using the sulfonating agent trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate. The membranes have characterized by analyzing of functional groups, proton conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and degree of swelling. The FTIR spectrum showed that the sulfonated polystyrene-bacterial cellulose composite material was successfully synthesized which was shown at the peak at wave number 1124.767 cm−1 which was a SO3 stretching vibration. The peak at wave number 962-1150 cm−1 was assigned the stretching of CO vibrations for C-OC and C-OH which indicates cellulose glycosidic bonds. The highest Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) value and proton conductivity were in the composite membrane: bacterial cellulose mass ratio 3,5: 1,5, the CEC value 2.25 meq/g and the proton conductivity value 1.176 x 10−6 S/cm2. This result shows that the sulfonated polystyrene-cellulose bacterial composite membrane has the ability to deliver protons so that it has the potential to be developed as a fuel cell membrane.

Synthesis and characterization of composite membranes based on bacterial cellulose and coral powder

“…Bacterial cellulose were made based on previous research [3], coral powder preparation begins by crushing the stone into small sizes of 1-2 cm and then washing it thoroughly using running water, then drying the sample in the sun and placing it on a container, then placing it in the oven at 100 ᵒC for 3 hours until the sample is dry. The dry stones were then pulverized using a mortar pestle and then sieved using 100 mesh sieves.…”

“…Bacterial cellulose is cellulose produced from fermentation by the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum, has a high level of purity compared to plant cellulose and has unique structural and mechanical characteristics, has the properties of good strength, low cost, low density, high toughness, and abundant availability [1][2][3][4]. Composite is a new material resulting from a combination of two or more materials which does not have the different formation properties of the materials of which it consists filler (matrix) and reinforcement [5].…”

Fabrication of pore-filling cation-exchange membrane from waste polystyrene and Spunbond Meltblown Spunbond (SMS) non-woven polypropylene fabric as the substrate

“…It is widely used in the beverage and food industry and at this time in almost every aspect of our daily lives 2 . Sadly, the polystyrene's complex structure and high molecular mass make it undegradable and disposable, resulting in environmental problems since they can remain in water and soil for a long period 4 . These waste polystyrenes could be used to be converted into valuable for converting into invaluable materials for different applications 5 .…”