Synthesis of graphene oxide and their incorporation in nanostructured polyethersulfone membranes: Study of antibacterial and dyes adsorption properties

Abstract

AbstractThis work explored the combined antibacterial and selective dye adsorption properties of graphene oxide (GO) incorporated into nanostructured polyethersulfone (PES) membranes. For this purpose, GO synthesis was performed by the Hummers method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, using a graphite source as a reference. The dye adsorption capacity of GO was evaluated, obtaining a retention of ca. 66% with methylene blue (MB) and ca. 72% with methyl orange, higher than activated charcoal. In addition, the antibacterial properties of GO were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with complete bacterial inhibition after 2 h of contact. GO was successfully incorporated into electrospun PES fibers to fabricate hybrid PES membranes, with a PES film (phase inversion) as substrate and an electrospun surface coating with PES/GO (at 1 wt%) fibers, corroborated by SEM micrographs. As a result, the hybrid PES membrane demonstrates an AA ca. 85% after 2 h of contact with both microorganisms and an improvement in colorant retention after two and four cycles of filtration, respectively. In addition, the adsorption isotherm and kinetics demonstrate the enhancement of the PES/GO membrane's performance in contact with MB solutions. Our results suggest that the GO incorporation into nanostructured hybrid membranes improves the fabrication of multifunctional NF membranes, with a potential application in wastewater treatment.Highlights Combined antibacterial/dye adsorption capacity of PES/GO membranes was found. Nanostructured membrane by PES and PES/GO fibers decorated was obtained. PES/GO demonstrates antibacterial features against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Enhanced dye adsorption capacity of PES/GO membrane was performed with MB. PES/GO membranes show properties for successful NF membrane development.