A methodology for synthesis of reduced graphene oxide membranes for desalination of produced water

We present a simple methodology for desalination of produced water generated on crude oil fields, using reduced graphene oxide based membranes. This work was developed in three steps: 1) Synthesis of graphene oxide through Modified Hummers method, 2) A novel method for membrane fabrication through a layer-by-layer thermal-chemical reduction of graphene oxide on a hydrophilic paper and 3) Vacuum filtration of produced water of a Colombian crude oil field. The rGO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy – attenued total reflection, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The efficiencies of adsorption of Na⁺ and Mg²⁺cations on produced water were evaluated by determining the percentages of removal for each cation through Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Conductivity test was made on produced water in crude oil field to determine the useful life of membranes synthetized. These results confirm that rGO membranes are very efficient for water purification.