Fabrication of polydopamine/graphene oxide composite membranes for effective radionuclide removal

As the energy consumption surges in the past few decades, the utilization of reliable and cost-effective energy resources with minimum greenhouse gas emission is highly desirable, for which nuclear energy has gained intensive attention. The proper treatment of radioactive process water yet remains challenging, but is of vital importance due to its significant threats to environment and public health. In this work, a polydopamine/graphene oxide (PDA/GO) membrane was developed for radionuclide-contaminated water treatment. By the incorporation of PDA, the interlayer spacing of the GO membrane is regulated, as well as an improved anti-swelling property is achieved. At optimal preparation conditions, the PDA/GO has exhibited a high rejection of 99.9 % towards thorium ions with a satisfying water flux of 5.0 L·m −2 h −1 . Moreover, the influence of solution pH and thorium concentration on the membrane separation performance is studied. Results have indicated that the PDA/GO membrane presents a new promise for the treatment of radionuclide-contaminated water.