Nanocomposite Membrane with Polyethylenimine-Grafted Graphene Oxide as a Novel Additive to Enhance Pollutant Filtration Performance

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00524
• Publication Date: 2018-04-17T18:03:48Z
• Authors: Lina Zhang; Baoliang Chen; Abdul Ghaffar; Xiaoying Zhu
• Keywords: Polyethylenimine; Filtration (mathematics)

Synthetic membranes often suffer ubiquitous fouling as well a trade-off between permeability and selectivity. However, emerging materials which are able to mitigate membrane break the selectivity urgently needed. A novel additive, GO-PEI, bearing positive charge hydrophilic nature was prepared by covalent grafting of polyethylenimine (PEI) molecules with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets, later blended bulk poly(ether sulfone) (PES) fabricate containing nanocomposite (NCMs). Strong π–π interactions contributed uniform dispersion GO-PEI nanosheets in PES form asymmetric structure NCM without leaching. The ratio additive regulated surface hydrophilicity NCMs. To filter charged proteins, designed exhibited high (flux) (retention) while showing resistance could be attributed composition that porous internal composited responsible for NCM's flux; thereafter, electrostatic attraction pollutant enhanced solute/water selectivity; finally, synergistic effect functional groups formation dense hydration layer on thereby reducing fouling. functionalized demonstrated potential high-performance removal water wastewater treatments.