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Fabrication and evaluation of nanofiltration membrane coated with amino-functionalized graphene oxide for highly efficient heavy metal removal

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Abstract

In this study, two different methods were used to introduce functionalized graphene oxide (GO) onto the surface of nanofiltration (NF) membrane to improve its performance for heavy metal removal. The first method was based on coating in which the surface of NF membrane was coated with cross-linked GO, while the second method was introducing GO into monomer solution during interfacial polymerization. The efficiency of different methods was then compared by characterizing membrane physiochemical properties, as well as separation performance. With regard to performances, the water flux of TFN-i2 membrane (with GOs incorporated into thin layer) was reported to be 95 L/m2 h compared to 75 L/m2 h found in the TFN-c2 membrane (with GOs coated on the surface) at 8 bar. Both modified membranes exhibited higher water flux than the control membrane without GO incorporation (40 L/m2 h). Although the water flux of TFN-c2 membrane was lower, it achieved higher cobalt removal (97%) than that of TFN-i2 membrane (73%) due to its higher negative surface charge that improved separation via the Donnan exclusion effect.

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Abbreviations

CA:

Contact angle

NF:

Nanofiltration

GO:

Graphene oxide

IP:

Interfacial polymerization

TFN:

Thin-film nanocomposite

RO:

Reverse osmosis

UF:

Ultrafiltration

TFC:

Thin-film composite

PA:

Polyamide

NPs:

Nanoparticles

TiO2:

Titanium dioxide

SiO2:

Silicon dioxide

APTES:

3-Aminopropyltriethoxsylane

PSF:

Polysulfone

NMP:

N-methyle-2-pyrrolidone

PVP:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone

TMC:

Trimesoyl chloride

PIP:

Piperazine

EDC:

(1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride

DI:

Deionized water

GO-NH2:

Modified GO

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by Department of Chemical Engineering, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran. We have to express our appreciation to the Membrane Science and Technology Research Center (MSRTC), Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, for sharing their laboratory facilities with us during the course of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran

    S. Lari & S. A. M. Parsa

  2. Department of Textile Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology (Polytechnic Tehran), Tehran, Iran

    S. Akbari

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran

    D. Emadzadeh

  4. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    D. Emadzadeh

  5. Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    W. J. Lau

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  1. S. Lari
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  2. S. A. M. Parsa
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  4. D. Emadzadeh
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Correspondence to D. Emadzadeh.

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The authors whose names are listed in this manuscript certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Editorial responsibility: Maryam Shabani.

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Lari, S., Parsa, S.A.M., Akbari, S. et al. Fabrication and evaluation of nanofiltration membrane coated with amino-functionalized graphene oxide for highly efficient heavy metal removal. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 4615–4626 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03464-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03464-2

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