Indian Journal of Advances in Chemical Science,

Volume: 11, Issue : 2, April 2023

ISSN No.: 2320-0898 (Print); 2320-0928 (Electronic)

DOI: 10.22607/IJACS.2023.1102004

Research Article

Novel Sulfonate Functionalized Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Polyelectrolyte Membranes for Drug Delivery, Toxic Metal Ion Removal, and Fuel Cell Applications

R. Vijitha, N. Sivagangi Reddy, T.J. Sudha Vani, K. Nagaraja, K.S.V. Krishna Rao*

ABSTRACT

Polyelectrolyte membranes (PEMs) have gained much attention in the last decade, mainly due to their potential industrial applications. This work aims to develop sulfonate functionalized sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC)-based PEMs and evaluate their application in drug delivery, toxic metal ion removal, and fuel cells. In the first attempt of this work, graft copolymers are synthesized, that is, NaCMC-g-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid (NaCMC-g-AMPS) and NaCMC-g-4-vinylbenzene sulfonate (NaCMC-g-SVBS). In the second attempt, prepared PEMs of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC)-based graft-copolymers (that are NaCMC-g-AMPS and NaCMC-g-SVBS) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) along with their composites with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA). Graft copolymers as well as PEMs are characterized by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy,
and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The fabricated PEMs were studied for their adeptness in drug delivery, heavy metal ion removal, and fuel cell applications. All the developed PEMs exhibited significant swelling at room temperature and a high ionic exchange capacity. PMA-doped PEMs were studied further in terms of methanol permeability, and proton conductivity. PMA undoped PEMs demonstrated controlled release characteristics for the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil and as a sorbent for the removal of Cu2+ metal ions.

Key words: Graft copolymer, Carboxymethyl cellulose, Poly(vinyl alcohol), Drug delivery, Toxic metal ion removal and fuel cell.

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