Novel Branched Polyamide/Poly(acrylonitrile)/Graphene Oxide Membranes for Separation of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds from Water via Pervaporation

Branched polyamides (BPAs) were prepared through a polycondensation method and then blended with poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN; 3:1) to construct the nanocomposite membranes having various concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) (2 and 5 wt%). The BPA/PAN and BPA/PAN/GO membranes were applied for selective removal of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs) from water by pervaporation. Impacts of feed composition, GO content and distinct feed types were investigated on pervaporation performance. Membranes were water selective and the permeation rate incremented with GO elevation. The highest permeation rate (203 g/m(2) h) and separation factor (10) were detected for BPA/PAN/GO-5 nanocomposite membrane containing 5 wt% GO for separating the pentachloroethane/water mixtures at 30 degrees C for 0.1 wt% pentachloroethane in feed. Separation of pentachloroethane/water mixture proceeded easier than those of 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane/water, trichloroethylene/water, and 1,2-dichloroethylene/water mixtures because of the larger molecular size of pentachloroethane.