Recent development of graphene oxide based forward osmosis membrane for water treatment: A critical review

Forward osmosis as an emerging membrane separation technology has attracted increasing attention due to ease in operation, low energy consumption, high rejection efficiency and low irreversible membrane fouling. An ideal forward osmosis membrane should have a high permeate water flux, satisfactory rejection performance and adequate mechanical strength. Graphene oxide nanosheets exhibit the promising potential for development of more efficient forward osmosis membranes because of their two-dimensional and flake-like structure, outstanding mechanical strength and high hydrophilicity. This review paper highlights and discusses the recent research progress in the development of different types of graphene oxide-based forward osmosis membranes mainly focused on enhancing water permeability, reducing reverse salt flux and relieving membrane fouling. The role of graphene oxide nanosheets in the improvement of performance and properties of forward osmosis membranes is highly dependent on the modification methods. It has remained challenging to fabricate an ultrathin graphene oxide lamellar forward osmosis membrane with enough mechanical strength and full utilization of specific advantages of graphene oxide nanosheets. This review can serve as a valuable reference for further developing innovative and effective graphene oxide-based forward osmosis membranes.