Preparation and characterization of cellulose triacetate from Musa paradisiaca and cellulose triacetate-polyvinyl chloride blends

Cellulose triacetate (CTA) was prepared from dried banana plant (Musa paradisiaca) stem and veins of the leaves, which are hitherto discarded as waste. As the film of CTA showed poor mechanical properties, an attempt to improve its properties was made by preparing a plasticized CTA and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blend. The films of the blend and their individual partners were made separately and studied for their mechanical properties, chemical modifications and morphological changes. The results of IR, TGA, DMA and SEM of CTA-PVC blends have shown that there was no chemical reaction between CTA and PVC, and at the same time they were compatible with better physico-chemical properties. The important finding from this study is that the average pore size of the CTA-PVA blend is around 1 mu m and hence this can be used as filter to remove the bacteria having body diameter greater than 1 mu m. These blends can be used in future as ultra filtration membranes with suitable modifications.