A FACILE SYNTHESIS OF SEAWEED POLYSACCHARIDES BASED HYDROPHOBIC BIOCOMPATIBLE CROSSLINEKED COMPOSITE POROUS MATERIALS FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT SEPARATION

摘要

The present invention relates to a superhydrophilic biodegradable cross linked foam lnembrane and a process for preparation of said foam membrane from a seaweed polysaccharides by blending ith amino biopolymersl amino acids1 proteins/aniino con~pounds followed by crosslinking with a naturally occumng cross linker, genipin. The foam membrane can be used as a substitute for synthetic membrane for varied applications including membrane separation for oil-water emulsions, oil-water nlixtures and otlier aqueousorganic mixtures under ambient conditions. These foam membranes can be recycled and reused more than three times without considerable decrease in flux rate and stability. The separation methodology of the mixtures using the foanl membrane of the present invention is gravity-driven and therefore, simple and energy-efficient.