https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7643-9226
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ABSTRACT
Nanofiltration membranes with fast water permeability and good separation efficiency along with acceptable stability are an urgent need for various applications. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) is functionalised with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using different ratios (0.01, 0.02, and 0.03). The Ag NPs have been prepared from orange peel extractive by a green chemical method. The GO/Ag NPs functionalised membranes (ratio 0.03) with thickness ~385 ± 10 nm exhibit an excellent selectivity for various dye molecules with good water permeance, i.e. methylene blue (99 ± 1% rejection and permeability ~287 ± 10 L.m−2.h−1.bar−1), crystal violet (rejection 99 ± 1% and permeability 862 ± 10 L.m−2.h−1.bar−1), safranin O (rejection 99 ± 1% and permeability 625 ± 10 L.m−2.h−1.bar−1) etc. Further, the GO/Ag NPs functionalised membrane (Thickness ~385 ± 10) has been used for organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN), and the membrane exhibits high separation efficiency up to ~97% for several dye molecules in methanol solvent along with good permeance (530 ± 20 L.m−2.h−1.bar1). Besides this, these membranes are stable under different conditions for up to ~70 days. We hope that the good separation efficiency and high permeance of GO/Ag NPs composite membranes can be utilised in various wastewater treatment, desalination, and organic solvent nanofiltration applications.
Highlights
Graphene oxide/Silver Nanoparticle (GO/Ag NP) based membranes were prepared using green route
GO/Ag NP membranes exhibited ultrafast permeability for DI water (permeance ~1030±10 L.m−2.h−1.bar−1) and outstanding selectivity for several organic dyes up to ~100%
As-prepared membrane was used for organic separation and membranes exhibit good separation efficiency up to ~97% for several dye molecules in methanol solvent
GO/Ag NP membranes are highly stable under aqueous environment up to ~70 days
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to the Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, and University of Chinese academy of Sciences (CAS), China, for funding and research facilities.
Supporting information
The supporting data is available from the corresponding authors.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Shania Sharif
Ms. Shania is working as PhD student at Department of Environment Science, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi Pakistan. She is interested in synthesis of Graphene based nanomaterials for water purification and desalination.
Khuram Shahzad Ahmad
Dr. Khuram is currently working as a faculty member at Department of Environment Science, Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi. He has completed his PhD degree in Chemistry from Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. Dr. Khuram has published more than 100 papers in highly reputed Journals. His research interest includes: synthesis of Nanomaterials such as Graphene, Metal Chalcogenides,; Metal oxides, etc for solar cell, photocatalysis, water purification etc.
Fida Hussain Memon
Dr. Fida is currently working as a faculty member at Sukkur IBA University, Sindh, Pakistan. He obtained his Bachelor and Master degree in electrical engineering from Sukkur IBA University, Sindh, Pakistan. His current research focus on nanomaterials, nanotechnology, renewable energy includes applications of graphene-based energy storage devices.
Faisal Rehman
Mr. Rehman is working as Research Associate at College of EME, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. He has completed M.E (Electronics System Design) from Sukkur IBA University, Pakistan and Master of Science (MS) degree in Digital Fabrication Design from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. His research interests are Bio Chip, Material Engineering, 2D Materials, Bio Electronics, Nano Electronics, Micro Electronics, Embedded Electronics, CAD Design CNC Machining, 3D design and Fabrication, and Micro Electromechanical Systems.
Faheeda Soomro
Dr. Soomro is working as faculty member at Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University Sukkur, Pakistan. She has completed her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular biology from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) Beijing, China. Her research work is mainly focused in the fabrication of nano-materials for water purification and photocatalysis.
Khalid Hussain Thebo
Dr. Thebo did PhD in Material Science from Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), China under supervision of Prof. Wencai Ren & Prof. Hui-Ming Cheng on ‘graphene- based membrane for water purification and desalination applications’. His research interest includes: synthesis of 2D Materials (Graphene, Mxene & Metal Chalcogenides); membrane science/ technology for drinking water purification and wastewater reuse, gas membranes; proton exchange membranes and photocatalysis.