Metal Organic Framework - Graphene Oxide Mixed Matrix Ultrafiltration Membranes

Abstract

Urban development and economic growth have increased water use parallel to rising populations, placing pressure on the world's water resources, thus, adopting cost-effective water purification treatment technologies is critical. Membranes are anticipated to be fundamental in lowering the detrimental environmental effects as well as the expenses of industrial operations for the treatment of water, wastewater, and other liquids owing to their outstanding durability, efficacy, and flexibility in operation. Advances in polymeric membrane materials appear to have reached a trade-off limit in terms of selectivity and permeability, therefore, due to the limitations of traditional membranes, researchers are increasingly concentrating their efforts on the state-of-the-art mixed-matrix membranes. In this study, novel forms of mixed matrix membranes have been produced through the combination of two well-known nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks, and graphene oxide, which were then inserted in a polymer that integrates the benefits of each type of material and allows the membranes to be multifunctional. In particular, the current research aims to investigate the potential of novel MOF@GO mixed matrix membranes in water treatment mainly in response to bovine serum albumin exposure and anti-fouling performance, permeability, and selectivity. The pristine PES membrane, hZIF-8/PES, GO/PES, and hZIF-8@GO/PES mixed matrix membranes with different filler loading percentages were fabricated and tested in ultrafiltration unit where the pure water flux was found to be the highest for the M-G0.5% followed by the M-G1% of 352.15 L.m-2 .h-1 and 231.40 L.m-2 .h-1 , respectively, and the highest BSA rejection was 96.45% for the M-hZG0.5% with a PWF of 168.31 L.m-2 .h-1 .

Date of Award	Aug 2023
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Georgios Karanikolos (Supervisor)