Sulfonated graphene nanomaterials for membrane antifouling, pollutant removal, and production of chemicals from biomass: a review

Abstract Water pollution and the unsustainable use of fossil fuel derivatives require advanced catalytic methods to clean waters produce fine chemicals from modern biomass. Classical homogeneous catalysts such as sulfuric, phosphoric, hydrochloric acid are highly corrosive non-recyclable, whereas heterogeneous appear promising for lignocellulosic waste depolymerization, pollutant degradation, membrane antifouling. Here, we review sulfonated graphene oxide nanomaterials improving membranes, adsorption depolymerization waste, liquefaction biomass, production chemicals. We also discuss economy oil Sulfonated display an unusual large theoretical specific surface area 2630 m 2 /g, allowing reactants easily enter internal nanosheets reach active sites. is hydrophobic has hydrophilic groups, hydroxyl, carboxyl, epoxy, thus creating cavities on nanosheet’s surface. The capacity approached 2.3–2.4 mmol per gram naphthalene 1-naphthol. Concerning observe improvement hydrophilicity, salt rejection, water flux, antifouling properties, removal. can be reused several times without losing activity due high stability originating stable carbon–sulfur bond between sulfonic group.