Crosslinked graphene oxide membranes: Enhancing membrane material conservation and optimisation

Kandjou, Vepika, Hernaez, Miguel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7878-4704, Casal, Maria D. and Melendi-Espina, Sonia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1083-3896 (2022) Crosslinked graphene oxide membranes: Enhancing membrane material conservation and optimisation. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 136. ISSN 1876-1070

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Abstract

Background: Graphene Oxide (GO) has recently shown great promise in water purification as a potential substitute to conventional membrane materials. However, GO membranes face some challenges associated to their swelling due to the accumulation of water molecules in their oxidized regions. The use of crosslinkers has been proven as an effective way to improve GO membranes stability and performance. Nevertheless, optimisations to efficiently use materials and resources are a necessity. These include the determination of the influence of GO and crosslinker amounts on membrane structure, operation, and efficiency. Methods: Consequently, in this study crosslinked membranes with different GO and p-phenylenediamine (crosslinker) concentrations were fabricated to establish relationships between the quantity of the selected materials and membranes performance. FESEM was undertaken to investigate the structural quality together with thickness measurements. The performance of the membranes was evaluated via a pressure assisted nanofiltration cell using aqueous methylene blue (MB) as feed solution. Significant findings: A notable enhancement in MB separation from around 75 to 98% was observed at an increasing GO and crosslinker concentrations. The permeation flux decreased correspondingly owing to tortuosity lengthening at higher GO concentrations. Based on performance rates and XPS characterizations the optimum crosslinker and GO concentrations were deduced.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Engineering
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 15 Jun 2022 14:32
Last Modified: 20 Jun 2023 01:38
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/85642
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2022.104434

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