Textile Technology

Permanent URI for this community

http://196.220.97.103:4000/handle/123456789/102

Browse

Browsing Textile Technology by Title

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Development and Characterisation of a Nanocomposite Membrane Using Polyethersulphone and Graphene Oxide-Magnetite Nanoparticles for Rejection of Chromium Hexavalent Ions from Tannery Wastewater
    (2018) Gadlula, S.; Ndlovu, L.N.; Ncube, L.K.
    Polyethersulphone (PES) polymer blended with Graphene Oxide (GO) and magnetite ( nano-composite was synthesized using an immersion precipitation process for the filtration of chromium hexavalent ions from leather processing waste water. PES is a synthetic polymer with good chemical resistance, wide pH range (2-13) as well as good mechanical and thermal properties. However, it is hydrophobic and prone to fouling hence its limitations in aqueous separation processes. In order to improve hydrophilicity, porosity, permeability and strength properties of the polymeric membrane, GO was synthesized from coal via a modified Hummers Method and then blended with anhydrous ferrous chloride to form Graphene oxide/ magnetite () hybrid nano-particles. To assess the performance of the membrane pure water flux, Equilibrium Water Content (EWC) and tensile strength test was measured. Structural analysis involved porosity measurement. The filtration efficiency of the membranes was found by testing the waste water for chromium ion concentration before and after filtration. It was established that both the physical properties and chromium ion rejection improved with increase in polymer concentration and addition of hybrid nano-particles.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Extraction and characterisation of the mechanical properties of cotton stalk bastfibres.
    (2016) Nkomo, N.Z.; Nkiwane, L.C.; Njuguna, D.; Oyondi, E.
    Cotton stalks are a waste by-product of cotton farming and a problem to dispose of as they tend to harbour parasites such as pink bollworm. The stalks are normally disposed of by burning, which contributes to the emission of harmful greenhouse gases which pollute the environment. Cotton stalks were collected from Umguza region in Zimbabwe which is located 53km from Bulawayo town. The stalks were subjected to retting for 3 weeks and there after fibre extraction carried out by means of manual decortication. The fibres were then subjected to a number of tests such as tensile strength, moisture regain, linear density, density and fibre length measurement test. The fibres were characterised according to their position relative to the cotton stalk and segmented as fibres from the top section, middle section and bottom section. The test results from characterisation of the fibres were analysed using SPSS statistical software. The cotton stalk fibres have a light brownish colour and the fibre length was approximately 8.18 cm. The moisture regain of the fibres was highest with fibres extracted from the root area having regain of 11.14%, fibres from the top half had moisture regain of 10.68% and fibres from the bottom half of 10.20%. The diameter of the cotton stalk fibres is 0.23mm which is similar to the diameter found in sisal fibres. The fibres have an elongation of 1.5%. The fibre yield from the cotton stalks is 23%. The cotton stalk fibres have density of approximately 1.45g/cm3.These fibres have possibility in various application which include fibreboards, for wall partitions, furniture applications and ceiling boards to replace solid wood materials.