US20180339273A1 - Method for purifying water - Google Patents

Method for purifying water Download PDF

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US20180339273A1
US20180339273A1 US16/052,067 US201816052067A US2018339273A1 US 20180339273 A1 US20180339273 A1 US 20180339273A1 US 201816052067 A US201816052067 A US 201816052067A US 2018339273 A1 US2018339273 A1 US 2018339273A1
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polygraphene
mixture
graphene oxide
membrane
acylated
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Tawfik Abdo Saleh
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King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B01D71/56—Polyamides, e.g. polyester-amides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D65/00—Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
    • B01D65/08—Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D67/00—Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
    • B01D67/0002—Organic membrane manufacture
    • B01D67/0006—Organic membrane manufacture by chemical reactions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D67/00—Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
    • B01D67/0079—Manufacture of membranes comprising organic and inorganic components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D67/00—Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
    • B01D67/0079—Manufacture of membranes comprising organic and inorganic components
    • B01D67/00793—Dispersing a component, e.g. as particles or powder, in another component
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D67/00—Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
    • B01D67/0081—After-treatment of organic or inorganic membranes
    • B01D67/0093—Chemical modification
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D67/00—Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
    • B01D67/0081—After-treatment of organic or inorganic membranes
    • B01D67/0093—Chemical modification
    • B01D67/00933—Chemical modification by addition of a layer chemically bonded to the membrane
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D69/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D69/12—Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
    • B01D69/125—In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D69/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D69/12—Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
    • B01D69/125—In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction
    • B01D69/1251—In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction by interfacial polymerisation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D69/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D69/14—Dynamic membranes
    • B01D69/141—Heterogeneous membranes, e.g. containing dispersed material; Mixed matrix membranes
    • B01D69/148—Organic/inorganic mixed matrix membranes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/02—Inorganic material
    • B01D71/021—Carbon
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/02—Inorganic material
    • B01D71/021—Carbon
    • B01D71/0211—Graphene or derivates thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D7/00—Producing flat articles, e.g. films or sheets
    • B29D7/01—Films or sheets
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
    • C01B32/15—Nano-sized carbon materials
    • C01B32/182—Graphene
    • C01B32/184—Preparation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
    • C01B32/15—Nano-sized carbon materials
    • C01B32/182—Graphene
    • C01B32/194—After-treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
    • C01B32/30—Active carbon
    • C01B32/312—Preparation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/44—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2323/00—Details relating to membrane preparation
    • B01D2323/30—Cross-linking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D61/00—Processes of separation using semi-permeable membranes, e.g. dialysis, osmosis or ultrafiltration; Apparatus, accessories or auxiliary operations specially adapted therefor
    • B01D61/02—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration
    • B01D61/025—Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
    • B01D71/06—Organic material
    • B01D71/66—Polymers having sulfur in the main chain, with or without nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only
    • B01D71/68—Polysulfones; Polyethersulfones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2077/00—Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2081/00—Use of polymers having sulfur, with or without nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
    • B29K2081/06—PSU, i.e. polysulfones; PES, i.e. polyethersulfones or derivatives thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2307/00—Use of elements other than metals as reinforcement
    • B29K2307/04—Carbon
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/755—Membranes, diaphragms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
    • C02F2101/10—Inorganic compounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
    • C02F2101/10—Inorganic compounds
    • C02F2101/12—Halogens or halogen-containing compounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
    • C02F2101/10—Inorganic compounds
    • C02F2101/16—Nitrogen compounds, e.g. ammonia
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
    • C02F2101/30—Organic compounds
    • C02F2101/32—Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/08—Seawater, e.g. for desalination
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/124—Water desalination
    • Y02A20/131—Reverse-osmosis

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to membranes, and particularly to a method for preparing a polygraphene membrane.
  • RO reverse osmosis
  • a filter which includes a porous or semipermeable membrane made from cellulose acetate or a polyimide thin-film composite.
  • a graphene membrane is a single-atomic-layer-thick layer of carbon atoms, bound together to define a sheet.
  • the thickness of a single graphene membrane which may be referred to as a layer or a sheet, is approximately 0.2 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) thick.
  • the carbon atoms of the graphene layer define a repeating pattern of hexagonal ring structures (benzene rings) constructed of six carbon atoms, which form a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms.
  • An interstitial aperture is formed by each six carbon atom ring structure in the sheet and this interstitial aperture is less than one nanometer across.
  • a method for preparing a polygraphene membrane includes adding graphite and sodium nitrate into sulfuric acid to form a first mixture; adding potassium permanganate solution into the first mixture to form a second mixture; adding hydrogen peroxide solution to the second mixture to form a mixture including soluble manganese ions; filtering the mixture including soluble manganese ions to form an aqueous suspension; centrifuging the aqueous suspension; performing ultrasonication of the suspension to obtain graphene oxide sheets; acylating the graphene oxide sheets to prepare an acylated graphene oxide sheet; and polymerizing the acylated graphene oxide sheets to prepare polygraphene.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the process of preparing polygraphene from graphite, according to the present teachings.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a polygraphene membrane incorporating silver and titanium dioxide, according to the present teachings.
  • a method for preparing a polygraphene membrane includes adding graphite and sodium nitrate into sulfuric acid to form a first mixture; adding potassium permanganate solution into the first mixture to form a second mixture; adding hydrogen peroxide solution to the second mixture to form a mixture including soluble manganese ions; filtering the mixture including soluble manganese ions to form an aqueous suspension; centrifuging the aqueous suspension; performing ultrasonication of the suspension to obtain graphene oxide sheets; acylating the graphene oxide sheets to prepare an acylated graphene oxide sheet; and polymerizing the acylated graphene oxide sheets to prepare polygraphene.
  • the graphene oxide sheets can be acylated by mixing the graphene oxide sheets with thionyl chloride (SOCl 2 ).
  • SOCl 2 thionyl chloride
  • the acylated graphene oxide sheets can be polymerized by mixing with amines, thiols, and/or amides.
  • the amine can be diamine, diethylamine, dialkylamine, triamines, or bis(hexamethylene)triamine.
  • the polygraphene can be used to form a polygraphene filtration membrane.
  • the polygraphene filtration membrane can include polygraphene alone or in combination with a second polymer.
  • the polygraphene can be subjected to interfacial polymerization with a second polymer to form the membrane.
  • the polygraphene can be introduced, layer by layer, into the second polymer.
  • the second polymer for preparing the membrane can be polyamide, polysulfone, or monomers thereof. Other suitable polymers or monomers thereof can be used.
  • the polygraphene membrane can have numerous applications such as desalination of salt water for water purification.
  • Silver and/or titania can be introduced during the polymerization of the polygraphene sheets (in situ process) or during insertion of polygraphene within the second polymer.
  • silver-modified polygraphene, titanium-modified polygraphene, and/or silver/titanium-modified polygraphene can be prepared.
  • the polygraphene filtration membrane can include one or more layers including polygraphene or modified polygraphene.
  • the polygraphene filtration membrane can include one or more layers including polygraphene with polyamide or polysulfone.
  • the polygraphene filtration membrane can include one or more layers including modified polygraphene with polyamide or polysulfone.
  • polymerization of graphene can include use of linkers to link the graphene or graphene oxide nanosheets.
  • the linkers can be amines, thiols, amides, and/or derivatives thereof.
  • the size of pores, interlayer spacing, reduction routes and paths of the graphene can be adjusted and controlled by the linker to make the membrane suitable for a specific application.
  • the membrane can be configured to separate salts, ions, metals, and/or organic pollutants, from water.
  • the membrane can be configured for the separation of oil components, hydrogen, nitrogen, and/or or methane from gaseous media or gas.
  • the present polygraphene filtration membrane showed improved performance in terms of permeate flux and salt rejection relative to other filtration membranes. It is believed that this improvement can be attributed to the narrow dimension of the nanocapillaries and the co-existence of sp 2 aromatic channels with various oxygen functionalities.
  • the polygraphene membranes can afford excellent permeability and selectivity toward various ions based on the molecular sieving effect and diverse chemical interactions, which are favorable for filtration and separation.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary method of preparing polygraphene.
  • graphite is oxidized using an oxidant such as KMnO 4 to prepare carboxylic acid functionalized graphene.
  • the functionalized graphene is mixed with thionyl chloride (SOCl 2 ) to undergo acylation reaction.
  • SOCl 2 thionyl chloride
  • the acylated graphene product is reacted with diamine to form polyamine/graphene or “polygraphene”.
  • the process of polymerization of graphene includes the use of linkers to link the graphene (or graphene oxide) nanosheets.
  • the linkers can be any amines, thiols and/or amides.
  • the linkers can include, for example, thionyl chloride-SOCl 2 -acylation reaction, diamine, diethylamine, dialkylamine or triamines, bis(hexamethylene)triamine, methanethiol, ethanethiol, 1-propanethiol, 2-propanethiol, butanethiol, tert-butyl mercaptan, pentanethiols, thiophenol, dimercaptosuccinic acid, or thioacetic acid.
  • FIG. 2 shows the schematic representation of an exemplary polygraphene membrane including a polyamide backbone with silver and titanium dioxide dispersed therein.
  • silver (Ag) and titania (TiO 2 ) can be added during the polymerization of poly-graphene sheets, i.e., during the in-situ polymerization process, or during the insertion of poly-graphene within the second polymer after the formation of the polygraphene.
  • Graphene was prepared from graphite by using a modified Hummers' method. Graphite and sodium nitrate were added to sulfuric acid while stirring to form a mixture. Potassium permanganate (KMnO 4 ) was slowly introduced into this mixture. Then, the mixture was stirred continuously at room temperature. Next, deionized water containing 30% hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) was introduced in order to reduce residual permanganate to soluble manganese ions. This was followed by filtration process to remove the residuals. Then, the aqueous suspension was centrifuged. Graphene oxide sheets were obtained by bath-sonication of the filtered graphite oxide suspension.
  • the prepared carboxylic functionalized graphene was then mixed with thionyl chloride-SOCl 2 -acylation reaction.
  • the product was then mixed with diamine, diethylamine, dialkylamine triamines, or bis(hexamethylene)triamine to form polygraphene.
  • the polygraphene was treated with silver, titania, or both.
  • Polygraphene or polygraphene modified with silver and/or titania was inserted into a second polymer, layer by layer, via a modified polymerization process of the monomers such as via an interfacial polymerization process.
  • the second polymer included polyamide or its monomers or polysulfone or its monomers.
  • Interfacial polymerization reaction occurred from the aqueous phase of m-phenyl diamine and the organic phase of trimesoyl chloride in which poly-graphene, silver polygraphene, titania polygraphene, titania/silver polygraphene, or modified polygraphene were homogeneously dispersed.

Abstract

A method for preparing a polygraphene membrane includes adding graphite and sodium nitrate into sulfuric acid to form a first mixture; adding potassium permanganate solution into the first mixture to form a second mixture; adding hydrogen peroxide solution to the second mixture to form a mixture including soluble manganese ions; filtering the mixture including soluble manganese ions to form an aqueous suspension; centrifuging the aqueous suspension; performing ultrasonication of the suspension to obtain graphene oxide sheets; acylating the graphene oxide sheets to prepare an acylated graphene oxide sheet; and polymerizing the acylated graphene oxide sheets to prepare polygraphene.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to membranes, and particularly to a method for preparing a polygraphene membrane.
    • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Many countries, especially those in the Arabian Gulf, are seeking solutions to convert salt water, e.g., seawater, into clean drinking water. Various approaches have been used to desalinate sea water such as distillation, reverse osmosis (RO) etc. For RO, typically a filter is used, which includes a porous or semipermeable membrane made from cellulose acetate or a polyimide thin-film composite.
  • A graphene membrane is a single-atomic-layer-thick layer of carbon atoms, bound together to define a sheet. The thickness of a single graphene membrane, which may be referred to as a layer or a sheet, is approximately 0.2 to 0.3 nanometers (nm) thick. The carbon atoms of the graphene layer define a repeating pattern of hexagonal ring structures (benzene rings) constructed of six carbon atoms, which form a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. An interstitial aperture is formed by each six carbon atom ring structure in the sheet and this interstitial aperture is less than one nanometer across.
  • Prior studies on graphene membranes have failed to provide a membrane suitable for use as a filtration membrane in salt water desalination using reverse osmosis. In these studies, it has been found, for example, that if the interlayer spacing of graphene is reduced, the nano-capillaries cannot be filled and water cannot permeate through completely.
  • Thus, a method of synthesizing polygraphene membranes solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • A method for preparing a polygraphene membrane includes adding graphite and sodium nitrate into sulfuric acid to form a first mixture; adding potassium permanganate solution into the first mixture to form a second mixture; adding hydrogen peroxide solution to the second mixture to form a mixture including soluble manganese ions; filtering the mixture including soluble manganese ions to form an aqueous suspension; centrifuging the aqueous suspension; performing ultrasonication of the suspension to obtain graphene oxide sheets; acylating the graphene oxide sheets to prepare an acylated graphene oxide sheet; and polymerizing the acylated graphene oxide sheets to prepare polygraphene.
  • These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the process of preparing polygraphene from graphite, according to the present teachings.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a polygraphene membrane incorporating silver and titanium dioxide, according to the present teachings.
    •
  • Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • A method for preparing a polygraphene membrane includes adding graphite and sodium nitrate into sulfuric acid to form a first mixture; adding potassium permanganate solution into the first mixture to form a second mixture; adding hydrogen peroxide solution to the second mixture to form a mixture including soluble manganese ions; filtering the mixture including soluble manganese ions to form an aqueous suspension; centrifuging the aqueous suspension; performing ultrasonication of the suspension to obtain graphene oxide sheets; acylating the graphene oxide sheets to prepare an acylated graphene oxide sheet; and polymerizing the acylated graphene oxide sheets to prepare polygraphene. The graphene oxide sheets can be acylated by mixing the graphene oxide sheets with thionyl chloride (SOCl2). The acylated graphene oxide sheets can be polymerized by mixing with amines, thiols, and/or amides. The amine can be diamine, diethylamine, dialkylamine, triamines, or bis(hexamethylene)triamine.
  • The polygraphene can be used to form a polygraphene filtration membrane. The polygraphene filtration membrane can include polygraphene alone or in combination with a second polymer. For example, the polygraphene can be subjected to interfacial polymerization with a second polymer to form the membrane. The polygraphene can be introduced, layer by layer, into the second polymer. The second polymer for preparing the membrane can be polyamide, polysulfone, or monomers thereof. Other suitable polymers or monomers thereof can be used. The polygraphene membrane can have numerous applications such as desalination of salt water for water purification.
  • Silver and/or titania can be introduced during the polymerization of the polygraphene sheets (in situ process) or during insertion of polygraphene within the second polymer. In this way, for example, silver-modified polygraphene, titanium-modified polygraphene, and/or silver/titanium-modified polygraphene can be prepared. The polygraphene filtration membrane can include one or more layers including polygraphene or modified polygraphene. The polygraphene filtration membrane can include one or more layers including polygraphene with polyamide or polysulfone. The polygraphene filtration membrane can include one or more layers including modified polygraphene with polyamide or polysulfone.
  • As discussed above, polymerization of graphene can include use of linkers to link the graphene or graphene oxide nanosheets. The linkers can be amines, thiols, amides, and/or derivatives thereof. The size of pores, interlayer spacing, reduction routes and paths of the graphene can be adjusted and controlled by the linker to make the membrane suitable for a specific application. For example, the membrane can be configured to separate salts, ions, metals, and/or organic pollutants, from water. Alternatively, the membrane can be configured for the separation of oil components, hydrogen, nitrogen, and/or or methane from gaseous media or gas.
  • The present polygraphene filtration membrane showed improved performance in terms of permeate flux and salt rejection relative to other filtration membranes. It is believed that this improvement can be attributed to the narrow dimension of the nanocapillaries and the co-existence of sp2 aromatic channels with various oxygen functionalities. The polygraphene membranes can afford excellent permeability and selectivity toward various ions based on the molecular sieving effect and diverse chemical interactions, which are favorable for filtration and separation.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary method of preparing polygraphene. Initially, graphite is oxidized using an oxidant such as KMnO4 to prepare carboxylic acid functionalized graphene. Subsequently, the functionalized graphene is mixed with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) to undergo acylation reaction. The acylated graphene product is reacted with diamine to form polyamine/graphene or “polygraphene”. Thus, the process of polymerization of graphene includes the use of linkers to link the graphene (or graphene oxide) nanosheets. The linkers can be any amines, thiols and/or amides. The linkers can include, for example, thionyl chloride-SOCl2-acylation reaction, diamine, diethylamine, dialkylamine or triamines, bis(hexamethylene)triamine, methanethiol, ethanethiol, 1-propanethiol, 2-propanethiol, butanethiol, tert-butyl mercaptan, pentanethiols, thiophenol, dimercaptosuccinic acid, or thioacetic acid.
  • FIG. 2 shows the schematic representation of an exemplary polygraphene membrane including a polyamide backbone with silver and titanium dioxide dispersed therein. As discussed above, silver (Ag) and titania (TiO2) can be added during the polymerization of poly-graphene sheets, i.e., during the in-situ polymerization process, or during the insertion of poly-graphene within the second polymer after the formation of the polygraphene.
  • The following example will further illustrate the method for the preparation of poly-graphene based membranes and should not be construed as specifically limiting the invention described and claimed herein.
    • EXAMPLE Preparation of Polygraphene Membrane
  • Graphene was prepared from graphite by using a modified Hummers' method. Graphite and sodium nitrate were added to sulfuric acid while stirring to form a mixture. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) was slowly introduced into this mixture. Then, the mixture was stirred continuously at room temperature. Next, deionized water containing 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was introduced in order to reduce residual permanganate to soluble manganese ions. This was followed by filtration process to remove the residuals. Then, the aqueous suspension was centrifuged. Graphene oxide sheets were obtained by bath-sonication of the filtered graphite oxide suspension. The prepared carboxylic functionalized graphene was then mixed with thionyl chloride-SOCl2-acylation reaction. The product was then mixed with diamine, diethylamine, dialkylamine triamines, or bis(hexamethylene)triamine to form polygraphene.
  • After the polymerization step of the graphene to make the polygraphene, the polygraphene was treated with silver, titania, or both. Polygraphene or polygraphene modified with silver and/or titania was inserted into a second polymer, layer by layer, via a modified polymerization process of the monomers such as via an interfacial polymerization process. The second polymer included polyamide or its monomers or polysulfone or its monomers. Interfacial polymerization reaction occurred from the aqueous phase of m-phenyl diamine and the organic phase of trimesoyl chloride in which poly-graphene, silver polygraphene, titania polygraphene, titania/silver polygraphene, or modified polygraphene were homogeneously dispersed.
  • It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (3)

1-9. (canceled)
10. A method for making a membrane and desalinating salt water for water purification, comprising:
the step of filtering the salt water through a polygraphene membrane to form purified water, wherein the polygraphene membrane is porous and is prepared by a process comprising the steps of
mixing graphite and sodium nitrate into sulfuric acid to form a first mixture;
adding potassium permanganate solution into the first mixture to form a second mixture;
adding hydrogen peroxide solution to the second mixture to form a mixture including soluble manganese ions;
filtering the mixture including soluble manganese ions to form an aqueous suspension;
centrifuging the aqueous suspension;
performing ultrasonication of the suspension to obtain graphene oxide sheets;
acylating the graphene oxide sheets with thionyl chloride to prepare an acylated graphene oxide sheet;
polymerizing the acylated graphene oxide sheet to prepare a polygraphene material, wherein the acylated graphene oxide sheet is polymerized by mixing with at least one of an amine, an amine derivative, a thiol, a thiol derivavtive, an amide, and an amide derivative; and
further comprising polymerizing the polygraphene material with a second polymer to form the polygraphene membrane.
11-12. (canceled) Claims 13 (Original): The method for desalinating salt water for water purification according to claim 10, wherein the acylated graphene oxide sheet is modified with at least one of silver and titanic.
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