Water Desalination by Pervaporation Using MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101(Cr)@GODoped PVA Hybrid Membranes

In this study, MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101(Cr)@GO were produced and added to the poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane for the manufacture of hybrid membranes to use in pervaporative desalination. The MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101(Cr)@GO additives were identified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The hybrid membranes were analyzed by using FTIR (chemical bond structure), XRD (crystallinity and amorphous phase), scanning electron microscope (SEM) (morphologic structure), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) (thermal features), and contact angle (hydrophility). The effects of MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101 (Cr)@GO content in the PVA membrane, feed sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration, and operation temperature were assessed for the flux and salt rejection. The addition of MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101(Cr)@GO to the PVA membrane improved the purification performance in pervaporative desalination applications. The durability of the hybrid membrane for desalination was studied. The optimal loading ratios for MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101(Cr)@GO were specified as 4 wt% MIL-101(Cr) and 4 wt% MIL-101(Cr)@GO, respectively. Optimum operation parameters were achieved at 60 °C of temperature and a 4 wt% of feed NaCl concentration for both hybrid membranes. Hybrid membranes (MIL-101(Cr)@GO doping) exhibited excellent desalination success with salt rejections of 99.99% and fluxes of 9.7 kg/m2 h. It was also seen that the hybrid membranes preserved their separation performance during 10 cycles.