Formulation of Cellulose Triacetate (CTA) derived from Ceiba pentandra for the bioremediation of crude oil

Abstract

Oil spills present enormous environmental and economic issues, needing effective and long-term remediation strategies. This work investigates the development and implementation of a composite Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) membrane enhanced with Cellulose Triacetate (CTA), obtained from kapok fibre, for crude oil bioremediation. The PVDF/CTA membrane was created using a phase inversion approach and compared to a PVDF-only membrane. SEM studies demonstrated that CTA improved membrane shape, resulting in bigger, fingerprint-like holes with increased surface area and oil absorption efficiency. The immobilization of Acinetobacter venetianus on the membranes resulted in greater oil degradation rates for PVDF/CTA membranes, with 14.73% degradation over 30 days compared to 7.8% for PVDF-only membranes. Reusability tests revealed consistent performance across 10 cycles of absorption and and 5 cycles of degradation, demonstrating the membrane's durability and suitability for repeated use. Although emulsan production was inconclusive due to quantification problems, the data highlight the PVDF/CTA membrane's potential as a long-term bioremediation technique. Kapok-derived CTA's porosity and hydrophobic characteristics contribute significantly to improved phase separation and membrane performance. Future study should concentrate on improving emulsan quantification and expanding this technique for real-world applications, thereby solving key environmental concerns related with oil spills.