Silver-graphene oxide nanocomposite-doped chitosan/PVA membrane for water treatment of Acid Blue 324 dye

Membrane technology has garnered a lot of attention as a practical and promising approach to water filtration throughout the last 20 years. The goal of the current research was to create a chitosan-PVA membrane doped with graphene oxide and silver (GO/Ag) nanocomposite for water treatment of acid blue 324 dye. GO/Ag nanocomposite was prepared and characterized by TEM, DLS, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Four types of membranes were prepared; chitosan (Ch), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Ch-PVA,and chitosan–PVA dropped with GO/Ag. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), UV spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) techniques were used to characterize the fabricated membranes. GO/Ag Ch-PVA membranes are thermally stable, as the melting temperature of the membrane is 337.66 °C. Doping GO/Ag nanocomposite into the Ch-PVA matrix resulted in higher absorption values over the range 200–380 nm, supporting the break down dye soluble in water and acting as a photocatalyst. Dye concentrations in water and the membrane’s adsorption capacity were evaluated at different pH values and initial dye concentrations. The results indicated that compared to Ch-PVA, PVA, and Ch membranes, the GO/Ag Ch-PVA membrane absorbs the dye by 83.1%, 69.5%, and 65.4% more. Additionally, it was discovered that the produced membranes have a higher dye removal efficiency at low pH levels than the basic medium. At pH 2, the dye absorption efficiency of GO/Ag Ch-PVA is higher by 11.47%, 1.78%, and 14.84% when compared to PVA, Ch, and Ch-PVA membranes. Research findings suggested that this fabricated membrane could be an effective dye removal adsorbent.