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Purifying arsenic and fluoride-contaminated water by a novel graphene-based nanocomposite membrane of enhanced selectivity and sustained flux

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Abstract

A novel graphene-based nanocomposite membrane was synthesized by interfacial polymerization (IP) through chemical bonding of the graphene oxide (GO) layer to polyethersulfone surface. Detailed characterization of the composite membrane through AFM, SEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD analysis, and Raman spectroscopy indicates strong potential of the membrane in highly selective removal of the toxic contaminants like arsenic and fluoride while permeating the essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. This makes the membrane suitable for production of safe drinking water from contaminated water. The membrane applied in a flat-sheet cross-flow module succeeded in removal of more than 98% arsenic and around 80% fluoride from contaminated water while selectively retaining the useful calcium and magnesium minerals in drinking water. A sustained pure water flux of around 150 LMH (liter per square meter per hour) during operation over long hours (> 150 h) with only 3–5% drop in flux indicates antifouling character of the membrane module.

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Abbreviations

TFC :

thin film composite

TFC-NF :

thin film composite nanofiltration

MPD :

m-Phenylene diamine

TMC :

trimesoyl chloride/(1,3,5-benzene tricarbonyl trichloride)

TDS :

total dissolved solid

TSS :

total suspended solid

LMH :

liter per meter square hour (L M−2 h−1)

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Acknowledgements

The authors are also thankful to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, for the fellowship support to the first author.

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for financial support under DST-FIST program and DST-Green Chemistry program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment and Membrane Technology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, 713209, India

    Madhubonti Pal, Mrinal Kanti Mondal & Parimal Pal

  2. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India

    Tapan Kanti Paine

Authors
  1. Madhubonti Pal
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  2. Mrinal Kanti Mondal
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  3. Tapan Kanti Paine
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  4. Parimal Pal
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Correspondence to Parimal Pal.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Pal, M., Mondal, M.K., Paine, T.K. et al. Purifying arsenic and fluoride-contaminated water by a novel graphene-based nanocomposite membrane of enhanced selectivity and sustained flux. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 16579–16589 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1829-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1829-1

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