Impacts of mono/divalent cations on the lamellar structure of cross-linked GO layers and membrane filtration performance for different DOM fractions

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of co-existing cations (Na+ or Ca2+) on the lamellar structure of cross-linked graphene oxide (GO) layers and GO modified membrane performance in terms of their fouling behaviours and retention for single-model organic matter, namely, bull serum albumin (BSA), sodium alginate (SA), humic acid (HA) and tannic acid (TA). In the absence of co-existing cations, the GO layers mitigated membrane fouling for large molecules (SA, BSA, and HA) but led to severer pore blocking for small molecules (TA) compared with pristine membrane. Na+ and Ca2+ altered the performance impacts of the GO modified membrane due to different interactions with the cross-linked GO layers. Low concentrations of Na+ (<0.4 mM) enlarged interlayer spacing of the GO layers and caused a decrease in flux after physical cleaning, but the GO layers maintained the uniform lamellar structure. High concentrations of Na+ (>0.4 mM) promoted the aggregation of cross-linked GO layers through charge shielding and reduced the uniformity of lamellar structure, which weakened the antifouling performance for large molecules and promoted the passage of small molecules through the membrane. However, Ca2+ complexed with GO sheets and reinforced the uniform lamellar structure of the GO layers, leading to a better antifouling performance for the filtration of large molecules than the pristine membrane but aggravated TA fouling.