Hyaluronic acid-graphene oxide/PVA hybrid monolith: A hydrophilic and compressible solid draw agent in forward osmosis

Abstract A new class of hyaluronic acid-graphene oxide/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid monolith (HA-GO/PVA) was prepared through a moderate method and applied as a highly efficient draw agent in Forward Osmosis (FO) process. GO nanosheets and HA were crosslinked with each other over a medical hydrophilic PVA sponge to form a three-dimensional porous monolith through poly (propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether). The as-prepared HA-GO/PVA monolith presented a high water flux (13.9 ± 1.09 L m−2 h−1, abbreviated as LMH) and there was no reverse permeation when the deionized water used as the feed solution. Moreover, it exhibited an excellent compressibility after inducing the PVA substrate which resulting in an easy and quickly process of water production and regeneration. And a longer lifespan which keeping an average water flux of 6.22 LMH during recycle FO process (water recovery ratio = 80%) as high as 300 cycles was obtained. In a real seawater desalination process, the HA-GO/PVA presents a great desalination capacity, and the water fluxes of dry and wet HA-GO/PVA are 7.2 ± 0.45 and 3.9 ± 0.28 LMH, respectively. Simultaneously, the regeneration process can be easily accomplished through squeezing the HA-GO/PVA with an adult palms (15 kPa) in a short-time.