Deploying holey rGO-based membranes for MPs removal

• Published in: Journal of water process engineering 2022-08, Vol.48, p.102875, Article 102875
• Main Authors: Yang, Lijuan, Ye, Xingyun, Cao, Xiaoyin, Zhu, Zhaoqi, Sun, Hanxue, Liang, Weidong, Li, An
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Holey reduced graphene oxide (h-rGO); Membrane; Microplastics (MPs); Removal efficiency
• ISSN: 2214-7144; 2214-7144
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.102875

The serious environmental issue caused by the rising levels of microplastics (MPs) pollution has aroused much more attention globally, therefore, an effective strategy needs to be established to eliminate MPs from the water. Herein, we first report the preparation of membranes based on holey reduced graphene oxide (h-rGO) nanosheets for efficient removal of MPs in wastewater. Compared with those untreated rGO, the h-rGO nanosheets show a porous structure with an average size of 27.3 nm, which is a benefit for construction membrane for separation of MPs with better water flux (37.19 L m−2 h−1 kPa−1). Employing the fluorescent polystyrene (FP) microspheres and PS beads as model MPs, the as-resulted h-rGO membranes exhibit extremely high MPs removal efficiency of 99.9%. In the case of treatment of the industrial MPs containing wastewater, almost all MPs could be captured by the h-rGO membranes which were confirmed by stereomicroscope. Taking advantage of their physicochemical stability and exceptional MPs removal efficiency, the h-rGO membranes may have great potentials for the removal of MPs in wastewater. [Display omitted] •A membrane based on holey reduced graphene oxide (h-RGO) was prepared by a simple and scalable method.•The h-RGO membrane exhibits interpenetrated and macroporous structure with high porosity.•The h-RGO membrane shows extremely high microplastics (MPs) removal efficiency (up to 99.9% in our condition).