Robust molecular-sieving graphitic membranes for gas and liquid separation

Abstract

Membrane is the most representative technology to solve the environmental crisis facing the world such as global warming, air pollution, depletion of drinking water source by water pollution. Membrane technology means selectively separating only the desired substances from a mixed gas or solution. The principle of separation uses various principles such as physical, chemical, and mechanical. Primarily, selective separation techniques using size differences of mixed materials are used. For the recovery of wastewater produced in numerous factories or the recovery of oil spilled into the sea due to accidents, it is necessary to develop a membrane capable of selectively permeating water and oil. The situation in which water and oil are separated from each other frequently occurs and it is a necessary skill to maintain a clean environment. As the environmental pollution becomes serious, the amount of drinking water that people can drink is decreasing, and the development of new drinking water production technology is imminent due to environmental disasters such as global warming. The technology of converting seawater into freshwater, which accounts for 97% of the Earth, is an essential technology not only for the present but also for the future. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a high-performance membrane that can remove salts. In addition, the harmful gas generated from the power plant is mostly composed of CO2, and CO2 must be separated and collected in the atmosphere as a main cause of global warming. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a membrane fabrication technology capable of separating only desired gases such as CO2 from various gas molecules. It is necessary to develop high performance membrane technology with various applications. I have developed the CVHT process to improve the membrane performance. Using this process, a film can be produced due to the chemical bonding of graphene with excellent alignment. In this way, a high-performance membrane was prepared by separating the gas and the solution using a graphitic film having a very good structure.