One-Pot Preparation of Alumina-Modified Polysulfone-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Membrane for Separation of Emulsion-Oil from Wastewater. (24th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Vuong Hoan T.; Nguyen, Minh N.; Truong, Tam T.; Nguyen, Tien Trung; Doan, Huan V.; Pham, Xuan Nui
• Other Names: Hosseini-Bandegharaei Ahmad Guest Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of nanomaterials. Volume 2020(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04-24
• Subjects: Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanomatériaux; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 620.115
• DOI: 10.1155/2020/9087595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-4110

Abstract

Abstract : In recent years, polysulfone-based nanocomposite membranes have been widely used for contaminated water treatment because they comprise properties such as high thermal stability and chemical resistance. In this study, a polysulfone (PSf) nanocomposite membrane was fabricated using the wet-phase inversion method with the fusion of graphene oxide (GO) and alumina (Al2 O3 ) nanoparticles. We also showed that GO-Al2 O3 nanoparticles were synthesised successfully by using a one-pot hydrothermal method. The nanocomposite membranes were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle. The loading of GO and Al2 O3 was investigated to improve the hydrophilic and oil rejection of the matrix membrane. It was shown that by using 1.5 wt.% GO-Al2 O3 loaded in polysulfone, ~74% volume of oil was separated from the oil/water emulsion at 0.87 bar and 30 min. This figure was higher than that of the process using the unmodified membrane (PSf/GO) at the same conditions, in which only ~60% volume of oil was separated. The pH, oil/water emulsion concentration, separation time, and irreversible fouling coefficient (F R w ) were also investigated. The obtained results suggested that the GO-Al2 O3 nanoparticles loaded in the polysulfone membrane might have potential use in oily wastewater treatment applications.