Thin‐Film Nanocomposite Nanofiltration Membranes Incorporated with Graphene Oxide for Phosphorus Removal

Abstract

For the first time, thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration membranes incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized and used to separate phosphorus from water sources of varying properties. Prior to phosphorus removal tests, two different TFN membranes and one control thin-film composite (TFC) membrane were subject to standard characterization in order to determine pure water flux, salt rejection, surface hydrophilicity, pore size, and porosity. By incorporation of GO, the water flux of composite membranes could be significantly improved with minimum decrease in salt rejection, mainly due to improved surface hydrophilicity coupled with enlarged pore size and overall structural porosity. Especially the TFN-1 membrane was found to perform better owing to its good combination of water flux and solute rejection, higher water flux, and comparable phosphorus rejection in comparison to the TFC membrane.

Characteristics and Performances of Blended Polyethersulfone and Carbon‐Based Nanomaterial Membranes: Effect of Nanomaterial Types and Air Exposure

“…The fabrication of the PES/GNPs‐O membrane could be done by simple phase inversion method through immersion precipitation route making this method the most widely used for commercial membrane fabrication today. For instance, studies of the application of this membrane type have been conducted in water treatment , ethanol dehydration , or gas separation . However, understanding the properties and characters would promote the decision for its technological application in order to obtain an effective and efficient process.…”

Efficient Removal of Phosphate from Wastewater by a Novel Phyto-Graphene Composite Derived from Palm Byproducts

“… 37 Several adsorbent materials were used, such as Fe and Al oxyhydroxides. 38 Liu and his team have used a graphene-zero-valent iron composite synthesized by a chemical reducing agent in phosphorus removal from aqueous solution, 4 while Jun et al 39 and Koo et al 40 used chemically synthesized GO; nevertheless, no literature has used graphene derived from palm biomass in the removal of phosphate. The use of graphene composites synthesized from agricultural waste is significantly efficient because it offers renewable, non-toxic, and low-cost bio-adsorbents.…”