Honeycomb-like SBA-15 parceled in 2D GO for ultrafiltration membranes fabrication with ultrahigh permeability and enhanced anti-fouling performance

Abstract

Novel 3D mesoporous silica SBA-15 and 2D graphene oxide (GO) composite nano-fillers incorporated polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes (GO-SBA-15/PSf) were first prepared via blending modifications by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPs). 3D honeycomb-like SBA-15 not only improved the surface hydrophilicity but also provided extra nano-channels parceled in 2D GO networks for convenient hydrone transport via confinement-effect. The lamellar GO networks relieved the agglomeration of inorganic materials inside the polymer, anticipating in the interfacial polymerization reaction. GO-SBA-15/PSf UF membranes were systematically investigated using contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) methods. The pure water flux reached 641.7 L m-2h−1 which was 3 times than that of pristine PSf membranes (229.2 L m-2h−1) under the pressure of 0.1 MPa. Negative charge of GO generated electrostatic repulsion with protein, which facilitated a high rejection of 98.22% and excellent FRR value of 85% that was 1.5 times than that of pristine PSf membranes (58%). The UF membranes fabricated by new multidimensional nano-fillers overcame the trade-off effect between permeability and protein rejection.