Improvement of water filtration performance of graphene oxide membranes on Nylon support by UV-assisted reduction treatment: Control of molecular weight cut-off

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes on Nylon support were modified by UV-assisted reduction to control their behavior in the filtration of water containing organic pollutants. Pyridine, phenol, 2-naphthol and disperse blue 3 used as probe pollutants determinate molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) prepared. The prepared with GO loads 0.04 0.06 mg cm?2 subjected UV radiation from a Hg lamp (30 W m?2) for 30–60 min. non-irradiated showed MWCO ca. 300 Da, rejection values above 90 % 3, while 2-naphtol reached 64 %. Irradiation resulted substantial removal oxygen surface groups, leading staking sheets decrease interlayer space. These structural changes narrowed size pores thus reducing solutes passage. Rejection 83 %, i.e. decreasing 150 Da. increase was higher load cm?2, however similar permeability achieved regardless load. UV-reduction shows high potential controlling maintaining good permeability.