Surface modification of nanofiltration membrane using 2D-black mica@graphene oxide nanocomposite with improved performance in water treatment

It is still a challenge to attain robust stable graphene oxide (GO) based filtration membranes for maintaining freshwater resources, which have an efficacious capacity to salts, drugs, and dyes separation from water. Here, an easy and efficient method has been reported for this challenge via GO and exfoliated black mica (EB) nanosheet intercalation. The structural and morphological characteristics of the prepared EB@GO and membranes were investigated by various characterization analyses. Mica's influence on the performance of the membrane was improved by decreasing its thickness after the exfoliation process. In comparison with the nascent GO membrane, the EB:GO (B:G) membrane demonstrated both improved water flux (from 22.1 L/m²h to 58.2 L/m²h) and boosted salts removal capacity (i.e., MgCl₂ (from 70.30 % to 87.34 %)). Also, this membrane can still reject dyes and drugs at high percentages (>90 %). Meanwhile, due to the B:G membrane's outstanding long-time performance, antibacterial effects against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and the ubiquitous van der Waals forces between two-dimensional materials, it can be developed to manufacture stable and highly efficient filtration membranes.