Multifunctional glass fibre filter modified with vertical graphene for one-step dynamic water filtration and disinfection

Abstract

Water purification is of great significance to alleviate water shortage and pollution problems throughout the world. In this work, we develop an electric field (EF)-assisted multifunctional one-step dynamic water filtration and disinfection system based on a vertical graphene-modified glass fibre filter (EF-VG-GFF). Benefiting from the dense and sharp nanowall structures of VG and the localized enhanced EF, the EF-VG-GFF purification system innovatively functions as a filter and an electroporation-disinfection system to simultaneously realize the physical interception and irreversible physiological inactivation of bacteria. As a result, >3.7 log removal efficiency (nearly 99.99% disinfection) is achieved for various examined bacteria under a voltage of several orders of magnitude lower than that in traditional electroporation–disinfection systems, and at a fast treatment speed of 2000 L h⁻¹ m⁻² equivalent to only 0.36 s retention time. The excellent purification performances, along with time and energy efficiency, byproduct-free and safety advantages, make the EF-VG-GFF system a competitive choice for the development of high-efficiency, low-cost, and eco-friendly water purification.