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.