DESALINATION USING GRAPHENE OXIDE-CELLULOSE COMPOSITE MEMBRANE

Abstract

The ion separation potential of graphene oxide-cellulose membrane produced from waste materials for use in filtration processes is demonstrated in this study. Graphene nanomaterial was prepared by electrochemical exfoliation of electrodes from waste zinc-carbon batteries and characterized using TEM, UV-Vis, FTIR, and SEM/EDX techniques. The membrane was fabricated from graphene oxide and recycled cellulose paper pulp and was also characterized. The membrane has a surface area of 0.001735 m2, and under vacuum pressure of 0.3 Pa was found to have average permeability of 6.5285 x 10-5 m3/m2.s.Pa, flux of 1.9585 x 10-5 m3/m2.s, and volumetric flow rate of 3.3985 x 10-6 m3/s.Membrane desalination studies were performed using a suction pump set-up for time intervals of 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150min on sodium chloride–simulated brackish, saline, and hyper-saline water. The ion separation efficiency measured by conductivities of water samples was found at the end of 150 min to be 91.0, 90.89, and 92.98% for brackish, saline, and hyper-saline water respectively. Optimum ion separation was obtained in the first 30 min of the desalination experiment (96.95, 96.63 and 96.56% for brackish, saline, and hyper-saline water respectively), after which there was a progressive increase in conductivities of all water samples due to swelling of the composite membrane.