Reviewing the recent developments of using graphene-based nanosized materials in membrane separations

Abstract

According to the potentialities of graphene-based materials and their unique physicochemical properties. Such 2D nanomaterials are likely to be the most implemented within the improvement of the selective separations of polymer membranes, together with enhanced physicochemical properties (such as hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, transport of molecules, mechanical and thermal features, among others). Hence, this review compiles and analyzes the latest development works (over the last 5 years) for combining graphene materials (including graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, etc.) in polymer phases at aiming their implementation in different membrane-based technologies. Herein, particular emphasis has been crucially paid to the novel studies together with relevant findings in the field. Based on the most important insights, the concluding remarks are given with compelling recommendations to the new researchers at exploring graphene materials in membrane separations.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene
• graphene oxide
• membranes
• reduced GO
• selective separations

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest

Authors' contributions

All authors have compiled the literature and contributed to writing the paper. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

R. Castro-Muñoz acknowledges the School of Engineering and Science and the FEMSA Biotechnology Center at Tecnológico de Monterrey for their support through the Bioprocess (0020209I13) Focus Group. Financial support from Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under Ulam Programme (Agreement No. PPN/ULM/2020/1/00005/U/00001) is also gratefully acknowledged. This research received no external funding.