The University of Leeds2025-01-022025-01-02https://dspace.academy.edu.ly/handle/123456789/975Forward osmosis (FO) has emerged attention for its potential in water purification owing to low energy consumption and utilisation of osmotic gradients. However, challenges with conventional polymeric membranes, such as fouling and limited selectivity, impose advancements in membrane materials. Graphene oxide (GO) emerges as a promising alternative due to its unique structure and properties. This research aims to develop scalable GO-based laminar membranes for FO, balancing desalination efficiency and long-term stability while mitigating fouling and internal concentration polarization (ICP). Moreover, it advances GO-based membrane technology for FO applications via innovative fabrication methods and chemical modifications. The findings in this research underscore the potential of tailored GO membranes to address critical challenges in water purification technologies, paving the way for efficient and durable FO membranes in practical applications.The second phase explored the chemical modification process of GO using amine groups, fabricating PEI60k:rGO/PEG membrane via acid treatment with Hydrochloric acid (HCl), reduction, crosslinking with Hyperbranched Poly(ethylenimine) (HPEI), and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) hydrophilic modification. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis verified the successful functionalisation between PEI and GO, SEM imaging showed the stable micro-structures, XRD patterns determined the tighten inter-layer spacing (0.31 nm), and the Water Contact Angle (WCA) measurements also confirmed the improved surface wetting (42.7˚) of the resultant PEI60k:rGO/PEG membrane. In FO experiments, this membrane exhibited 37% and 82% higher water flux than PEI60k:rGO and CTA-FO membranes, with enhanced solute rejection (97.9%) and mechanical stability, highlighting the need for optimising rGO layer thickness.Development of Graphene Oxide-Based Forward Osmosis Membranes for Water Desalination