As a newkind of 2D nanomaterials

graphene oxide (GO)with 2-4 layerswas fabricated viaamodified Hummers method and used for the preparation of pervaporation (PV) membranes. Such GO membranes were prepared via a facile vacuum-assisted method on anodic aluminiumoxide disks and applied for the dehydration of butanol. To obtain GO membranes with high performance

effects of pre-treatments

including high-speed centrifugal treatment of GO dispersion and thermal treatment of GO membranes

were investigated. In addition

effects of operation conditions on the performance of GO membranes in the PV process and the stability of GO membranes were also studied. It is of benefit to improve the selectivity of GO membrane by pre-treatment that centrifuges the GO dispersion with 10000 r·min

-1

for 40 min

which could purify the GO dispersion by removing the large size GO sheets. As prepared GO membrane showed high separation performance for the butanol/water system. The separation factor was 230

and the permeability was as high as 3.1 kg·m

-2

·h

-1

when the PV temperature was 50 ℃ and the water content in feed was 10% (by mass). Meanwhile

the membrane still showed good stability for the dehydration of butanol after

running for 1800 min in the PV process. GO membranes are suitable candidates for butanol dehydration via PV process.