Synthesis of carbon black-loaded natural rubber/carboxymethyl cellulose semi-IPN nanocomposite for effluent treatment

Abstract

Semi-IPN composites of natural rubber (NR), hydrophilic sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and carbon black (CB) with different compositions have been created by solution casting process in an attempt to develop a novel adsorbent under various pH ranges for the cationic dye methylene blue (MB). The produced NR/CMC film can be employed as an adsorbent of MB dye, according to the results, which demonstrate that composites with 2% CMC and 0.2 g CB displayed a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.72 mg/g and a dye removal efficiency of 85.22% at pH 9. The semi-IPNs were characterised using X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetry, FTIR, and SEM methods. The NR/CMC semi-IPN composites' SEM micrographs showed a continuous, homogenous and porous structure. The films' equilibrium swelling characteristics were examined. For the NR98%CMC2% polymeric composition, containing 2% glutaraldehyde (GA) and 0.02 g CB loading, a maximum tensile strength of 3.3 MPa was achieved. In a 12-month period with 2% CMC, the NR/CMC semi-IPN showed a 70% biodegradation rate, while the pure NR showed only a 20% degradation rate. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the addition of CMC reduces the crystallinity of natural rubber.