Preparation of a new 2D MXene/PES composite membrane with excellent hydrophilicity and high flux

Abstract

MXene, a new 2D transition metal carbide-based material, possesses excellent electrical conductivity and hydrophilicity. In this study, Ti3C2Tx (where T represents a functional group (O, OH, and/or F)) was produced by etching and ultrasonicating Ti3AlC2. Then, it was used to prepare the MXene composite membrane via a simple filtration method performed at 0.2 MPa on a polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membrane. The MXene composite membrane shows excellent flux (115 L m-2 h-1) and favorable rejection to Congo red dye (92.3% at 0.1 MPa). The membrane demonstrated rejection to inorganic salts below 23% with flux above 432 L m-2 h-1 at 0.1 MPa. Due to its loose lamellar structure, the composite membrane is able to demonstrate efficient permselectivity in the separation of dyes from salts. Furthermore, the composite membrane shows excellent hydrophilicity and flux because of the lamellar hydrophilic MXene.