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. 2021 Dec 31;14(1):148.
doi: 10.3390/polym14010148.

A Novel Generation of Polysulfone/Crown Ether-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes with Potential Applications in Hemodialysis

Andreea Madalina Pandele  1   2 , Madalina Oprea  1   2 , Andreea Aura Dutu  3 , Florin Miculescu  4 , Stefan Ioan Voicu  1   2
Affiliations

A Novel Generation of Polysulfone/Crown Ether-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes with Potential Applications in Hemodialysis

Andreea Madalina Pandele et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Heavy metal poisoning is a rare health condition caused by the accumulation of toxic metal ions in the soft tissues of the human body that can be life threatening if left untreated. In the case of severe intoxications, hemodialysis is the most effective method for a rapid clearance of the metal ions from the bloodstream, therefore, the development of hemodialysis membranes with superior metal ions retention ability is of great research interest. In the present study, synthetic polysulfone membranes were modified with reduced graphene oxide functionalized with crown ether, an organic compound with high metal ions complexation capacity. The physico-chemical characteristics of the composite membranes were determined by FT-IR, Raman, XPS and SEM analysis while their efficiency in retaining metal ions was evaluated via ICP-MS analysis. The obtained results showed that the thermal stability of reduced graphene oxide was improved after functionalization with crown ether and that the presence of the carbonaceous filler influenced the membranes morphology in terms of pore dimensions and membrane thickness. Moreover, the ability of Cu2+ ions retention from synthetic feed solution was up to three times higher in the case of the composite membranes compared to the neat ones.

Keywords: composite membranes; covalent functionalization; hemodialysis; polysulfone.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Theoretic reaction mechanism for the functionalization of rGO-NH2 with CE.
Figure 1
Figure 1
FT-IR spectra of rGO-NH2 before and after functionalization with CE.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Raman spectra of rGO-NH2 before and after functionalization with CE.
Figure 3
Figure 3
XPS survey spectra of rGO-NH2 before and after functionalization with CE.
Figure 4
Figure 4
C 1s high resolution XPS spectra of rGO-NH2 before (a) and after functionalization (b) with CE.
Figure 5
Figure 5
TGA curves of rGO-NH2 before and after functionalization with CE.
Figure 6
Figure 6
FT-IR spectra of PSF and PSF/rGO-NH2-CE.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Raman spectra of PSF and PSF/rGO-NH2-CE.
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM images of PSF (a) and PSF/rGO-NH2–CE (b), top view at two magnification values (50× and 200×), and cross-section (100×).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Graphical representation of PSF and PSF/rGO-NH2-CE membranes performances in terms of metal ions retention ability.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Water fluxes through polysulfone and polysulfone composite membranes after 4 h of recirculation.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Urea and creatinine clearance through polysulfone and polysulfone composite membranes after 4 h of recirculation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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