CCES Unicamp

Insights on the mechanism of water-alcohol separation in multilayer graphene oxide membranes: Entropic versus enthalpic factors

In this work, we have investigated the molecular level mechanism underlying the alcohol/water separation inside graphene oxide (GO) membranes. A series of simulations were carried out and our results show that the separation phenomenon is not only governed by membrane affinities (enthalpic mechanisms) but mainly by the geometry and size factors (entropic mechanisms). These findings contribute to clarify important aspects of the separation behavior of confined alcohol/water in GO membranes.

Insights on the mechanism of water-alcohol separation in multilayer graphene oxide membranes: Entropic versus enthalpic factors

Full Article URL:

Experimental evidence has shown that graphene oxide (GO) can be impermeable to liquids, vapors and gases, while it allows a fast permeation of water molecules. Theoretical studies to understand the filtration mechanisms come mostly from water desalination, while very few works have been dedicated to alcohol dehydration. In this work, we have investigated the molecular level mechanism underlying the alcohol/water separation inside GO membranes. A series of Molecular Dynamics and Grand-Canonical Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to probe the ethanol/water and methanol/water separation through GO membranes composed of multiple layered graphene-based films with different interlayer distance values and number of oxygen-containing functional groups. Our results show that the size exclusion and membrane affinities are not sufficient to explain the selectivity. Besides that, the favorable water molecular arrangement inside GO 2D-channels forming a robust H-bond network and the fast water permeation are crucial for an effective separation mechanism. In other words, the separation phenomenon is not only governed by membrane affinities (enthalpic mechanisms) but mainly by the geometry and size factors (entropic mechanisms). Our findings are consistent with the available experimental data and contribute to clarify important aspects of the separation behavior of confined alcohol/water in GO membranes.

Related posts

Using computational chemistry to understand biomass pretreatments for biofuel production

escience

Analysis of the onset and evolution of a dynamic stall vortex on a periodic plunging aerofoil

cces cces

Pesquisadores do CCES participaram de curso do MIT sobre modelagem multiescala de materiais

cces cces