Graphene is an emerging nanomaterial that is useful for many energy and environmental applications because of its excellent chemical and physical properties. Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is a 3D porous carbon material synthesized by direct laser writing with a CO<sub>2</sub> laser on many types of carbon substrates. Because of the facile, reagent-free preparation, LIG can be quickly prepared on surfaces in a single step and can potentially be scaled up. LIG surfaces are electrically conductive and show promise in environmental applications because of a strong resistance to biofouling in batch mode studies, however, less is known of its utility in other aspects of water treatment. Here we show that LIG membranes can be used to degrade pharmaceutical compounds, textile dyes and heavy metal ions. We synthesized LIG membranes, characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which were used as both cathode and anode in an electrochemical system. Under an electric potential, we observed electrochemical reduction of model pollutants and included Iohexol deiodination, methylene blue transformation to the colorless leuco methylene blue and hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) reduction to the less toxic Cr (III) species. The influence of electric field, kinetics of the reactions, and the transformation products will be presented. Additionally, the potential of these LIG membranes for application in real environmental conditions was evaluated under cross flow conditions. Overall, this study increases the potential of LIG membranes for usage in advanced water and wastewater treatment.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) membranes for advanced water and wastewater treatment

2019 Fall National Meeting

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