Employing the synergistic effect between aquaporin nanostructures and graphene oxide for enhanced separation performance of thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis membranes

In this study, novel thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were developed by incorporating graphene oxide (GO) and Aquaporin Z (AqpZ) reconstituting nanostructure (AQN) into the polyamide (PA) active layer to improve forward osmosis (FO) performances of PA TFN membranes. First, AQN loading in was optimized, followed GO addition at various loadings until optimal FO process performance attained. Experimental results showed that flakes increased membrane water flux but decreased selectivity creating non-selective voids layer. Whereas, healing defects created flakes. The synergistic effect GO-AQN improved without deteriorating membrane. with 0.2 wt% 0.005 (TFN50) almost 3 folds increase (24.1 L·m?2·h?1) comparison TFC (8.2 L·m?2·h?1), while retaining (0.37 g.L?1). Interestingly, TFN50 demonstrated a 27% lower specific reverse salt (SRSF) marginal than embedded no (TFNGO50). overall experimental confirmed GO-based could reducing study provide strategies further enhance preventing formation defective