rGO induced enhanced antifouling properties in electrospun PVA–rGO nanocomposite membranes†

The contamination of water by oil poses a significant risk to the entire ecosystem and has led to the development of advanced materials and processes for its remediation. Current membrane-based remediation is unfortunately unsustainable due to membrane fouling and secondary pollution. This has necessitated an immediate need to search for cleaner materials for the remediation of oily water for providing sustainable solutions. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based membranes are an attractive alternative owing to their low costs and non-toxic nature. Graphene-based materials show a high affinity for pollutants and have excellent mechanical and antibacterial properties. Herein, we report the development of an electrospun PVA–rGO nanofibrous membrane with better anti-fouling properties for the remediation of oily water. The addition of rGO results in reduced fibre morphology, pore size distribution, and enhanced mechanical properties. High tortuous porosity favours separation under low-pressure conditions with an improved permeate flux of ∼15 000 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and separation efficiency of >99% for several filtration cycles and effective immobilization of E. coli sp. The hydrophilic surface of the membrane reduces bio-film formation, providing enhanced anti-fouling properties. Phytotoxicity studies using the permeate showed favourable plant growth, suggesting effective remediation of the oil–water mixture.