Review of graphene oxide-improved thin-film nanocomposite membranes for desalination of saline water

Abstract

Saline water poses significant risks to human health and the environment, contaminating freshwater sources and causing corrosion of infrastructure. It is unsuitable for domestic uses such as drinking, washing, and bathing. Membrane-based desalination technologies, particularly Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF), are among the most effective methods for mitigating these challenges. Thin-film composite (TFC) membranes have shown high potential for achieving excellent water flux and salt rejection at low operating pressures. However, their performance is limited by the trade-off between salt rejection and water permeability, as well as frequent membrane fouling. To address these limitations, graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles were synthesized using an improved Hummers’ method and incorporated into TFC membranes to enhance their desalination performance. The polyamide (PA) active layer was fabricated via interfacial polymerization (IP), while the polyether sulfone (PES) support layer was prepared using phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation. The resulting GO-modified thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were developed to improve water flux, salt rejection, and antifouling properties, providing a potential solution to the problems associated with saline water. The structural and physicochemical properties of GO and the modified membranes were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis).