THE EFFECT OF FIBRILLATED CELLULOSE PREPARED FROM THE DISTILLERY CORN REFUSE ON POROSITY OF PAPER FILTERS
This study exploited the possibility of using corn distillery refuse as a cheap source of nanocellulose production. Coarse fibrillated cellulose and very fine particles were extracted by acid-alkali extraction. Two methods were compared where either acidic extraction took place before alkaline extraction or with the extraction in a reversed order. The effectiveness of removing hemicellulose and lignin was determined by IR Fourier transform spectroscopy. The optimal technique of application of fibrillated cellulose with added solutions of metal cations with antimicrobial properties on HEPA filter was selected. The optimal conditions were the alkali extraction followed by the acidic extraction and optimal application of solution of fibres and metal ions on filter paper was achieved using rod. The efficiency of filter materials was tested on a filter device with using of two model microorganisms and results showed that it is necessary to consider both the type of fibres, their optimal coating on filter paper as well as the morphology of microorganisms. The mixture of Cu, Al, Mg, Ca and Zn metal ions was sufficient for effective disinfection.