Development and Characterization of PAN/Lkp Membranes with Graphene and Graphene Oxide for Water Decontamination

• Grant number: 25/02090-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Edson Cocchieri Botelho
• Grantee: Isabela Luiza Rodrigues Cintra
• Supervisor: Jochen Meier-Haack
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/14946-2 - Performance evaluation of PAN/PEI membranes with graphene and graphene oxide for application in water treatment, BP.DR

Abstract

The rapid population growth and increasing industrialization have led to a shortage of freshwater sources, threatening economic development and human survival. In this context, water treatment has become critically important, with various techniques under study, such as filtration, desalination, and the use of membranes for decontamination. Electrospun nanofibrous membranes, due to their high permeability and porosity, show promise, although they face challenges in terms of mechanical strength. To improve the performance of these membranes, the incorporation of nanoparticles, especially carbon-based ones, has been explored, with a focus on graphene and its derivatives due to their high surface area, mechanical strength, and chemical stability. The use of graphene in membranes can result in more efficient filtration materials with high selectivity and reduced costs. The project proposes the development of polymeric membranes made from blends of Polyacrylonitrile and Lignin, reinforced with graphene and graphene oxide, investigating the impact of nanoparticle size on separation properties. The innovation of the project lies in the analysis of the effect of graphene's layer number, aiming to enhance existing filtration technologies and contribute to solving the issue of freshwater scarcity in water-stressed regions.