**Abstract**

Membrane-based separation technology has attracted great interest in many separation fields due to its advantages of easy-operation, energy-efficiency, and easy scale-up and environmental friendliness. The development of novel membrane materials and membrane structures is an urgent demand to promote membrane-based separation technology. Graphene oxide (GO), as an emerging star nano-building material, has showed great potential in the membrane-based separation field. In this review paper, it is briefly reviewed the preparation and characterization of GO. Then, the preparation method, characterization, and type of GO-based membrane are summarized. Before that the general concept behind membrane technology is presented.

**Keywords:** graphene oxide (GO), graphene, graphene-oxide membrane
