Abstract
In this study, the effects of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets on the physicochemical properties and performances of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) membranes were investigated. Nanocomposite membranes were fabricated using CAB and a small amount of GO in the range of 0 to 0.07 wt. %, using a conventional phase-inversion method. Membranes were characterized by different methods and their performances were tested using a dead-end filtration system. Compared with pristine CAB membrane, experimental results demonstrated an improvement in features such as hydrophilicity, permeability, salt rejection, antifouling, and stability. The results proved an increase in the porosity and pore sizes of membranes with GO addition. Furthermore, the membrane containing 0.07 wt. % of GO exhibited a low contact angle of 37 degrees and a dramatic improvement in water flux of about 450% (from 2 to 11 L/(m(2) h)). Moreover, it demonstrated a salt rejection of 39% for NaCl and 87% for Na2SO4, corresponding to improvements of about 144 and 93%, respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed a higher antifouling property with an 86% improvement in flux recovery and higher stability in terms of performance and thermal properties compared to CAB.