Robust, functionalized reduced graphene-based nanofibrous membrane for contaminated water purification

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2021-01, Vol.404, p.126347, Article 126347
• Main Authors: Zhang, Mengjie, Cui, Jiaxin, Lu, Tao, Tang, Guosheng, Wu, Shutian, Ma, Wenjing, Huang, Chaobo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Nanofibrous membrane; One-step reduction; Reduced graphene oxide; Robust; Water purification
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126347

[Display omitted] •A nanofibrous membrane was prepared for contaminated water purification.•The membrane is based on reduced graphene and aromatic polymer.•The membrane can maintain the properties under multi-kinds external stimulations.•The membrane is suitable for recycled test without compromising the performance.•This material has great potential to be used at industrial level. This work proposes an anti-corrosive nanofibrous membrane by combining one-pot solvothermal reduction method and electrospinning technology as a solution to the ever-increasing water pollution issues. Such membrane is made of aromatic polymer-polyimide and further modified by reduced graphene oxide, which maintained the original performance under different external environment and multi-cycled test, and achieved high separation efficiency (99.19%) and flux (2040.04 L m-2h−1) at the same time. The purification process is suitable for various contaminants and different combinations. Additionally, the inherent purification mechanism was fully explored in this study. The practicability of the membrane can be tested for the contaminated water purification, the recycle of poisonous and harmful substances, pre-process of precision extraction and so on.