|
Membrane Water Treatment Volume 16, Number 1, January 2025 , pages 29-40 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/mwt.2025.16.1.029 |
||
|
Mixed matrix PES membranes incorporated with rGO and f-rGO with improved metal removal capacity |
||
Dixita P. Prajapati and C.N. Murthy
|
||
| Abstract | ||
| In this work graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and reduced to obtain reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which was further functionalized to obtain functionalized reduced graphene oxide (f-rGO). The performance of membranes was studied in terms of pure water flux and rejection of heavy metal. The resulting membranes showed improved water permeability, heavy metal rejection, and antifouling properties compared to pristine polyethersulfone membranes. These enhancements were attributed to increased hydrophilicity and smoother surfaces facilitated by the graphene derivatives which was analysed by contact angle analyser, atomic force microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Functionalized reduced graphene oxide containing polyethersulfone membrane gives increased water flux reaching a maximum of 257 LMH (L/m2.h) and higher metal removal nearly 86% rejection for Pb (II), 92% rejection for Cu (II) and 95% rejection for Cr (VI) as well as increased bovine serum albumin rejection of 94.2% along with 80.5% flux recovery ratio which is higher than reduced graphene oxide containing polyethersulfone and pristine polyethersulfone membranes. Overall, functionalized reduced graphene oxide containing polyethersulfone membranes exhibited the best performance, making them promising for various separation applications. | ||
| Key Words | ||
| antifouling; functionalized reduced graphene oxide; graphene oxide; mixed matrix membranes; reduced graphene oxide | ||
| Address | ||
| Dixita P. Prajapati and C.N. Murthy: Macromolecular Materials Laboratory, Applied Chemistry Department, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, 390001 | ||
