Preparation of new 2D MXene/cellulose acetate mixed matrix membrane with excellent performance

Inorganic nanosheets materials are attracting more and more attention to prepare mixed matrix membrane (MMM) with excellent performance. MXene, a new kind of 2D transition metal carbides material, has the similar lamellar structure as graphene oxide and it is a potential material of separation membrane. In this work, the typical MXene material named Ti3C2Tx is used to prepare MXene/cellulose acetate (CA) MMM with phase inversion method. The scanning electronic microscopic images of the membrane show the dense functional layer without visible defects. The MXene/CA MMM prepared with 18% CA and 3% MXene shows high rejection to Gentian Violet (408 Da) 100% with flux of 4.2 L/m(2) h at 0.3 MPa. It also has high rejection to Na2SO4 89.6% with flux of 4.8 L/m(2) h at 0.3 MPa. After crosslinking with 5% glutaraldehyde at 60 degrees C, the MMM performance does not decline after immersion in 50% dimethylacetamide solution for 12 d, which means excellent solvent resistance of the membrane. Compared with CA membrane, MXene/CA MMM also has better fouling resistance.