The reaction of p-carboxy phenyl amino maleimide (CHM) with cellulose acetate (CA) led to the formation of a modified cellulose acetate polymer (MCA), which was characterized by UV/Vis, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. The active sites of the reaction were the –NH group of (CHM) and the OAc of CA. CA was grafted with (CHM) to build branches on its main chains, using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The results of 1H NMR and 13C NMR revealed the presence of (CHM) moieties inside the polymeric matrix. The (CA-g-CHM) ZrO2 was fabricated into a membrane, using a phase inversion technique. The effect of ZrO2 content on the water flux was discussed. The SEM/EDS was also used to characterize the membrane contents and morphology. The morphology of the membrane showed the grafted parts and the EDS confirmed the presence of nitrogen atoms in the polymeric matrix. The thermogravimetry (TGA) results showed that the membrane exhibited high thermal stability which would adjust the membrane for the desalination process. The desalination test indicated the removal of NaCl salt by the membrane, as shown by the EDS and 1H NMR spectroscopy results. The membrane exhibited good antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Cellulose acetate (CA) was chemically modified with p–hydrazinobenzoic acid (HBA) for the fabrication of a CA–HBA polymeric membrane. The CA–HBA was characterized using NMR, UV-Vis, and EDX/SEM techniques. CA–HBA exhibited high hydrophilicity, as it included carboxylic groups as well as the hydroxyl group of the CA glycosidic ring. The HBA moieties increased the hydrophilicity and the number of active sites inside the CA polymeric matrix, but they did not improve the thermal stability of the polymer, as shown by the thermogravimetry (TGA). Polysulfone (PSF) was blended with CA-HBA in various compositions to produce highly thermal and effective membranes for water treatment applications. The fabricated membranes (CA–HBA/PSF) (5:95) (10:90) (15:85) were found to exhibit high thermal stabilities. The CA–HBA/PSF 15:85 membrane exhibited the highest efficiency towards the removal of Cu (II) ions, while the 5:95 membrane exhibited the highest salt rejection (89%).