Cross-Linked Graphene Oxide Membrane Functionalized with Self-Cross-Linkable and Bactericidal Cardanol for Oil/Water Separation

A cross-linked graphene oxide (GO) membrane was fabricated by a simple vacuum filtration, which was followed by a thermal treatment to functionalize GO with renewable cardanol (cardanol-GO). The cardanol-GO was fabricated through reactions between epoxy groups on the GO surface and phenolic moieties of cardanol with the participation of a catalyst. The prepared cardanol-GO membrane was then heated to form a cross-linked structure by reactions between the double bonds of cardanol. The cross-linked GO membrane exhibited outstanding dimensional stability and oil/water separation efficiency. Furthermore, the cross-linked cardanol-GO membrane was proved to contain a marked antibacterial property against Escherichia coli that originates from the cardanol moieties.