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Fabrication of Graphene-based Nanocomposite Membranes for Treatment of Process-affected Water
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- Author / Creator
- Karkooti, Amin
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Membrane separation processes are extensively used for separation of solutes such as ions, colloids, macromolecules, and organic matter from water. Among various membrane technologies, ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) are progressively being employed for elimination of organic matter and macromolecules for wastewater treatment in a single or multiple filtration stage. Fouling is a commonly problematic phenomenon that negatively affects permeate flux, membrane lifespan, and energy consumption in membrane processes. However, fouling on membrane can be reduced by modifying membrane surface properties. In the present research, we fabricated and characterized high-performance nanocomposite membranes by incorporation of graphene-based nanomaterials to a polymeric membrane to enhance its antifouling properties. First different quantities of graphene oxide (GO) derivatives were added to the casting solution and nanocomposite membranes were prepared via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. The GO derivatives employed have different shapes and oxidation states with the potential to increase permeation flux and fouling resistance properties of the membrane through controlled pore size, surface charge, and hydrophilicity of the surface. The results revealed that all graphene-based nanocomposite membranes in low quantities showed better permeation and contaminant rejection compared to unmodified PES membrane. In the second stage of the research, extended DLVO (XDLVO) analysis, flux recovery ratio (FRR), and QCM-D were employed to characterize the adsorption behavior of organic foulant on three fabricated mixed-matrix UF membranes. In the third part of this research, we fabricated electro-conductive membranes by depositing a thin layer of polyaniline (PANI)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on a polyethersulfone (PES) support. The results showed that the application of an external electric field reduced the organic fouling in both cathode and anode setting.
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2020
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
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- License
- Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.