Open AccessSilane-Grafted MXene (Ti3C2TX) Membranes for Enhanced Water Purification Performance
Author(s) -
Tayyaba Yousaf,
Aneeqa Areeb,
Maida Murtaza,
Akhtar Munir,
Yaqoob Khan,
Amir Waseem
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
acs omega
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2470-1343
DOI - 10.1021/acsomega.2c01143
Subject(s) - membrane , chemical engineering , styrene , materials science , pervaporation , silane , grafting , silanization , polymer chemistry , polymer , chemistry , permeation , copolymer , composite material , biochemistry , engineering
The current communication describes the modifications of MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) with silane grafting reaction for membrane preparation for enhanced water purification. The MXene was successfully grafted with n -octadecyltrichlorosilane (MODCS), n -octyltrichlorosilane (MNOCS), and triphenylchlorosilane (MTPCS) in order to make a hydrophobic MXene that could be able to bind with the organic matrix/polymers. The modified MXenes were transformed into thin membranes by forming an MXene/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite over a filter paper support, that is, MCE (mixed cellulose ester filter paper). MXene membranes were also formed without the MCE support by using PVA and glutaraldehyde (PVA/GA) where GA was used as a cross-linker to stabilize PVA and make it water-resistant. The conditions of membrane formation were optimized to investigate optimum compatible conditions with the modified materials. The resulting membranes were tested for the removal of various organic pollutants that included mesitylene (or trimethylbenzene); polyaromatic hydrocarbons (chrysene, as a model); biphenyl; bisphenol A; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene; methylene blue; and Sudan II dyes. The MTPCS PVA/GA cross-linked membrane showed the best results for a pollutant removal efficiency up to 98%. Overall, all six types of membranes showed the removal efficiency in the range of 52-98%. It was observed that the membrane exhibits reusability up to five cycles.