Decontamination of surface water from organic pollutants using graphene membranes

Abstract

In this paper, we deal with one of the most urgent and relevant topics nowadays, i.e., water pollution. The problem is finding a valid candidate for the absorption and removal of different kinds of pollutants commonly found in water. There are already some indications about graphene oxide as a potential candidate. In the present work, we take a step forward to show how graphene nanoplatelets (rather than the oxide form of this material) are capable of decontaminating water. In this starting step, we use a specific substance as a model pollutant, i.e., acetonitrile, leaving for the future steps, to extend the analysis to additional types of pollutants. In addition to laboratory-produced graphene nanoplatelets, we already examined in the past; now we wish to consider also commercially available ones, so that the new results will not be bound to a laboratory (low technology readiness level) material, but will become interesting also from the industrial point of view, thanks to the scalability of the nanoplatelets production. For this aim, we compare the performance of two types of filters based on two classes of nanomaterials, i.e., those produced by microwave and ultrasound assisted exfoliation, already analyzed in our earlier works, with those commercially distributed by an Italian company, i.e., NANESA, http://www.nanesa.com/. The latter is an innovative SME involved in the production of graphene-based nanomaterials. We focus here in the graphene nanoplatelets, commercially available in industrial batches (GXNan grades). The present study leads to determine which filtering membrane, among the various types of commercial graphene considered, shows the greatest stability, and the lack of breakage of the membrane, concentrating on such accessory features, given that all types of graphene showed excellent adsorption properties.

Graphene in gas separation membranes—State-of-the-art and potential spoors

“…For environmental remediation purposes, membrane technology has been widely adopted especially for the separation of desired or toxic gaseous species [1]. Among membranes, polymeric membranes have durability, long functioning, and efficient performance so achieved significance for the separation applications.…”

High-tech graphene oxide reinforced conducting matrix nanocomposites—Current status and progress

“…Graphene oxide is simply a graphene derivative having oxygen-containing surface functionalities on graphene nano-sheet. Graphene oxide has been utilized to form polymer nanocomposites with conducting polymers, thermosets, and thermoplastic matrices [6,7] . Particularly conducting polymers are generally well-known due to their remarkable properties, such as low price, high conductivity, lightweightness, simple fabrication, and reusability potential.…”

Cutting-edge conjugated nanocomposites—Fundamentals and anti-corrosion significance

“…Nanocarbon nanoparticles have been considered important fillers for nanocomposites and applied for technical applications [1,2] . Corrosion has been identified as a serious problem for metals employing industries [3] .…”