UV-enhanced sacrificial layer stabilised graphene oxide hollow fibre membranes for nanofiltration
UV-enhanced sacrificial layer stabilised graphene oxide hollow fibre membranes for nanofiltration
Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have demonstrated great potential in gas separation and liquid filtration. For upscale applications, GO membranes in a hollow fibre geometry are of particular interest due to the high-efficiency and easy-assembly features at module level. However, GO membranes were found unstable in dry state on ceramic hollow fibre substrates, mainly due to the drying-related shrinkage, which has limited the applications and post-treatments of GO membranes. We demonstrate here that GO hollow fibre membranes can be stabilised by using a porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sacrificial layer, which creates a space between the hollow fibre substrate and the GO membrane thus allowing stress-free shrinkage. Defect-free GO hollow fibre membrane was successfully determined and the membrane was stable in a long term (1200 hours) gas-tight stability test. Post-treatment of the GO membranes with UV light was also successfully accomplished in air, which induced the creation of controlled microstructural defects in the membrane and increased the roughness factor of the membrane surface. The permeability of the UV-treated GO membranes was greatly enhanced from 0.07 to 2.8 L m?2 h?1 bar?1 for water, and 0.14 to 7.5 L m?2 h?1 bar?1 for acetone, with an unchanged low molecular weight cut off (∼250 Da).
Chong, J. Y.
2f9ead94-86f2-4e20-9e67-75f10759555b
Aba, N. F.D.
881d6211-e9ae-4075-8a8f-8dd6bbe38e49
Wang, B.
5781edc5-4eeb-4aff-a88e-f0ca2caa0c60
Mattevi, C.
58086c8a-9a2e-4ce7-b478-b7c8d22d5feb
Li, K.
9d216a33-74a1-48c8-8c39-16513165a35c
3 November 2015
Chong, J. Y.
2f9ead94-86f2-4e20-9e67-75f10759555b
Aba, N. F.D.
881d6211-e9ae-4075-8a8f-8dd6bbe38e49
Wang, B.
5781edc5-4eeb-4aff-a88e-f0ca2caa0c60
Mattevi, C.
58086c8a-9a2e-4ce7-b478-b7c8d22d5feb
Li, K.
9d216a33-74a1-48c8-8c39-16513165a35c
Chong, J. Y., Aba, N. F.D., Wang, B., Mattevi, C. and Li, K.
(2015)
UV-enhanced sacrificial layer stabilised graphene oxide hollow fibre membranes for nanofiltration.
Scientific Reports, 5, [15799].
(doi:10.1038/srep15799).
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have demonstrated great potential in gas separation and liquid filtration. For upscale applications, GO membranes in a hollow fibre geometry are of particular interest due to the high-efficiency and easy-assembly features at module level. However, GO membranes were found unstable in dry state on ceramic hollow fibre substrates, mainly due to the drying-related shrinkage, which has limited the applications and post-treatments of GO membranes. We demonstrate here that GO hollow fibre membranes can be stabilised by using a porous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sacrificial layer, which creates a space between the hollow fibre substrate and the GO membrane thus allowing stress-free shrinkage. Defect-free GO hollow fibre membrane was successfully determined and the membrane was stable in a long term (1200 hours) gas-tight stability test. Post-treatment of the GO membranes with UV light was also successfully accomplished in air, which induced the creation of controlled microstructural defects in the membrane and increased the roughness factor of the membrane surface. The permeability of the UV-treated GO membranes was greatly enhanced from 0.07 to 2.8 L m?2 h?1 bar?1 for water, and 0.14 to 7.5 L m?2 h?1 bar?1 for acetone, with an unchanged low molecular weight cut off (∼250 Da).
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Published date: 3 November 2015
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Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank EPSRC (EP/K01658X/1) for the support and N.F.D. Aba thanks the Public Service Department of Malaysia for its support. This research was also supported by a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship for Bo Wang within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (Grant No. 627591). C. Mattevi acknowledges the award of a Royal Society University Research Fellowship by the UK Royal Society and the EPSRC Grant (EP/K016792/1).
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Local EPrints ID: 486370
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/486370
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 4d399a3a-ec4e-4785-ad45-ec08c06f3727
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Date deposited: 18 Jan 2024 19:26
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:18
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Author:
J. Y. Chong
Author:
N. F.D. Aba
Author:
B. Wang
Author:
C. Mattevi
Author:
K. Li
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