Graphene oxide (GO) is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice.  GO is believed to bear oxygenated functional groups, such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, epoxy groups, most likely on the edges as well as defect locations of the carbon sheet.  The 2D GO nanosheets have great potential as building blocks for the synthesis of inexpensive yet high-performance water purification membranes. In this study, we prepared a novel type of forward osmosis membrane by layer-by-layer assembly of negatively charged graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) via electrostatic interaction.  Multiple GO-PAH layers were formed on both sides of a porous poly(acrylonitrile) support.  We studied water and solute flux of the GO membrane in a forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis membrane system.  Water permeability of the GO membrane was found to be about one order of magnitude higher than that of a commercial forward osmosis membrane.  The double-side coating is believed to help reduce internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis membrane process.

Layer-by-layer assembled graphene oxide membrane for forward osmosis process

248th National Meeting (2014)

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