Electroconductive membrane fabrication using LIG and PES

What is it about?

Polymeric membranes used in water purification face challenges due to high-pressure requirements, fouling propensity, and permeability-selectivity trade-offs. Electroconductive membranes (ECMs) can deal with these challenges and have the potential to improve the performance and lifetime of membranes using a low electric potential. In the present work, robust ultrafiltration (UF) ECMs were fabricated using polyether sulfone (PES) and laser-induced graphene (LIG) through the phase inversion process. LIG is a conductive material with electrochemical and catalytic activity fabricated directly on a polymeric substrate with a CO2 laser in a chemical-free single-step process. The fabricated ECMs were optimized with PES concentration and membrane thickness, can perform reduction, precipitation, and filtration simultaneously. These ECMs have a permeability ranging from 450 to 200 LMH bar−1 with BSA rejection of ∼60 % and FRR up to ∼90 %. The electrochemically enhanced Cr(VI) removal reached ∼94 % by applying a low electrical potential. Furthermore, in the biofouling experiments, the attached live biomass was reduced by ∼67 % for fabricated ECMs compared to the pristine membrane. The results showed the anti-biofouling potential of fabricated ECMs, which can be further enhanced using their electrochemical activity. These new-generation ECMs have immense potential for dealing with permeability-selectivity trade-offs, enhancing pollutant removal, and antifouling applications with low applied potential.

Featured Image

Photo by ANIRUDH on Unsplash

Photo by ANIRUDH on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Overall, the fabrication of robust ultrafiltration ECMs with laser-induced graphene is important because it offers solutions to the challenges faced by polymeric membranes, such as fouling and permeability-selectivity trade-offs. These ECMs show enhanced pollutant removal, reduced biofouling, and have the potential to improve water purification processes with low energy requirements.

Perspectives