Abstract
Excessive heavy-metal (HM) ions in water system cause both environmental and human health problems. Therefore, the discharged wastewater has to be remediated from these HM contaminants. Membrane is the most promising water treatment technology that combines high separation efficiency, modest operation, concise of space, low footprints, and low operating cost. However, the current membrane technology has limitations in permeability and solute rejection which are highly influenced by membrane material and operating conditions. Incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) on membrane promotes the permeation and metal ions rejection rates. Factors that affect GO membrane performances in the removal of HM ions from wastewater (e.g., pH, temperature, pressure, initial feed concentration, metal ions solubility in solution, interaction between solution and GO membrane, complexing agent), as well as several proposed rejection-mechanisms (e.g., size exclusion, adsorption, and electrostatic interaction) have been reviewed and discussed in a comprehensive way. Perspectives and future development of GO membrane technologies for metal ions removal are given as complement.
