LAUSR

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) laminar membranes are attracting much attention in organic solvent nanofiltration owing to the promising permeation and selective performance derived from their 2D ultrathin separation layer. However, owing to easy swelling (enlargement of interlayer spacing), controlling the interlayer spacing in organic solvents and stable solvent permeation are major issues for their application to organic solvent systems. In this study, laminar GO membranes were fabricated on a porous polyketone (PK) support membrane using triethanolamine (TEOA) as crosslinker (GO-TEOA/PK). The interlayer spacing (d) between GO sheets was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The TEOA crosslinker effectively suppressed swelling of the GO laminar structure. For GO-TEOA/PK, the variation in d corresponded well with the affinity between TEOA and each solvent, Ra(TEOA–solvent), as estimated using the Hansen solubility parameters. Furthermore, common linear correlation between the permeance of alcohols and the parameter combining affinity, viscosity, and equivalent molar diameter was clearly observed. Therefore, the affinity between crosslinker and solvent was an important factor in controlling interlayer spacing and solvent permeation in the laminar GO membranes containing crosslinker.