Recycled Cellulose Acetate/Cerium Vanadate Nanoparticles Composite Membranes with Tuned Ultraviolet and Blue Light Shielding Capabilities

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation poses health risks with both immediate and long-term consequences. It is linked to various skin conditions such as skin cancer, sunburn, and aging. Radiation can negatively impact medication efficacy. UV radiation alters the color, texture, and taste of food, potentially making it unsuitable for consumption. Therefore, UV-shielding materials see significant research focus for various applications. Herein, different concentrations of CeVO4 nanoparticles were embedded in recycled cellulose acetate (CA) matrix to fabricate UV-shielding nanocomposite membranes. The UVC, UVB, UVA, and blue light transmittance through those membranes has been investigated. The addition of CeVO4 nanoparticles to the CA membrane resulted in a slight decrease in contact angle, indicating increased surface roughness and effective encapsulation of the nanoparticles within the CA matrix. The contact angle ranging from 64.22° to 65° indicates moderate hydrophilicity and a tendency for hydrophobicity, facilitating a stable and uniform distribution of the nanoparticles within the CA matrix. This balanced distribution is crucial to ensure sustained effectiveness in shielding against UV rays across the entire membrane. The recycled CA membrane and membranes containing 0.2 and 0.3 wt % CeVO4 exhibited similar UVC blocking behavior. The blocking efficiency of UVB remained stable for all CeVO4-containing membranes except for the membrane containing 0.6 wt % CeVO4, which exhibited a slightly increased transmittance after irradiation. Moreover, increasing the concentration of CeVO4 in the CA matrix resulted in enhanced blue light blocking. Therefore, the 0.1 wt % CeVO4@CA membrane is recommended for shielding against UVC and UVB, while the 0.6 wt % CeVO4@CA membrane is suitable for UVA and blue light blocking. This study introduces an approach that utilizes recycled CA and flower-shaped CeVO4 nanoparticles to fabricate membranes with enhanced thermal stability, superior light-blocking capabilities, and excellent optical properties. The results provide valuable insights into the development of advanced light-blocking membranes, addressing the limitations observed in previous studies and opening up possibilities for various applications requiring effective light shielding.